Cate Blanchett’s departure leaves Upton flying solo at the helm of Sydney Theatre Company.

Playwright Andrew Upton has been appointed artistic director of Sydney Theatre Company from 2014 for a further three years, following the end of his six-year tenure as co-artistic director with wife Cate Blanchett. Their final program will be unveiled on September 6.

Australia’s theatre power couple had announced they were both stepping down at the end of 2013, with plans to move their family to England. But upon hearing of their subsequent decision to stay put in Sydney, David Gonski, Chairman of Sydney Theatre Company, offered Upton a third term.

“After an extensive national and international search for a new artistic director, which identified a number of outstanding candidates, we considered that Andrew would be the best person to lead the company as it evolves into the next stage of its artistic development,” said Gonski.

Upton describes STC as “a great theatre company brimming with remarkably talented people in all areas of the organisation. It has wonderfully diverse spaces that offer Sydney audiences a real array of theatrical opportunity. I’m honoured and excited to be a part of this next phase.”

Blanchett will remain closely affiliated with STC, though...