Laurie Sansom, the National Theatre of Scotland’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, is to leave the company at the end of June.
He is leaving after three years.
In his tenure the theatre has produced productions such as The James Plays, the trilogy of history plays charting the fortunes of Scottish Kings James I, II & III.
The award-winning plays, directed by Sansom, are currently on a Scottish and UK tour.
He now plans to "explore ambitious directing opportunities in the UK and internationally."
Sansom, who succeeded founding director Vicky Featherstone, said: "I’m intensely proud to have been part of a National Theatre of Scotland which has produced such a wealth of bold and relevant theatre for audiences across a nation and across the world.
‘It has been a privilege to play a part in shaping the story of an amazing first decade in the life of one of the world’s great new national theatre companies but I believe it is time for new leadership to take the Company into its next decade as it moves into its new creation centre. I can’t thank enough the artists and audiences who have made this such a rewarding and inspiring time for me”.
Lucy Mason will take up the role of interim Chief Executive, on his departure, while the National Theatre of Scotland puts in "place a senior leadership structure to take the company into its second exciting decade" a statement said.
Dame Seona Reid, Chair of the National Theatre of Scotland says: "During the past three years Laurie's imprint on theatre-making in Scotland has been impactful and far-reaching.
"Throughout this time, as they have done for a decade, the staff, company and wider community of creative collaborators that form the National Theatre of Scotland have delivered with passion on their mission of creating inspiring theatre experiences for, and of Scotland, for the widest range of audiences.
"Laurie is without question one of the world's leading theatre directors. It is entirely fitting that his three years at the National Theatre of Scotland come to a close as the epic trilogy of The James Plays which he has nurtured and directed have been playing to Scottish and international audiences and to critical acclaim.''
Neil Cooper, theatre critic for The Herald, said: "It seems like a strange time for Laurie Sansom to depart the National Theatre of Scotland as its second artistic director.
"Not only is his production of Rona Munro's epic imagined history trilogy, The James Plays, currently touring the world, but the company is in the throes of celebrating its tenth anniversary with big plans to move to its new home and a programme that seems to reach out to every root and branch of Scotland's theatre community.
"As it is, The James Plays will now be Sansom's defining statement of a three year tenure which silenced many of those critical of his appointment with the sheer scale and majestic power of his staging.
"His other major public work with the NTS, stage adaptation of Muriel Spark's novella, The Driver's Seat, was more elliptical but equally impressive in its dramatic adventurous.
"Whatever Sansom's reasons for leaving, which may be as simple as him getting a better offer, just as outgoing NTS executive director Neil Murray and associate director Graham McLaren will shortly depart to Dublin's Abbey Theatre, he has left his mark."
He added: "Three years in such a big job, however, feels like no time, and, given that much of his programme was inherited from his predecessor Vicky Featherstone, it's as if he had only just fully got his feet under the table to mark out a territory of his own.
"The crucial thing now for the company to consider is who will take his place. Like inaugural NTS director Vicky Featherstone, Sansom will be a tough act to follow, wherever in the world they might be from."
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