Noble: Worked with Hands for more than 20 years

The RSC admitted that Mr Hands, who ran the company in the 1980s, "didn't agree" with the plans but a spokeswoman said that the split was amicable.

"They haven't fallen out but Terry felt it best to let Adrian Noble get on with what he's doing," she said.

Mr Hands, who now runs the Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold, Wales, had been an advisory director at the RSC with an artistic remit.

But the RSC spokeswoman confirmed that he had not attended these meetings "for a while".

Last month the RSC announced plans to demolish the "unwelcoming" Royal Shakespeare Theatre, built in 1932 and replace it with a new 1,050 seater venue.

The RSC had previously said it would only modify the existing Grade II* listed building.

Actors say the RST lacks intimacy

The proposal, which has been fiercely criticised by conservationists and has yet to be approved, is part of a general shake-up of the RSC planned by Mr Noble.

In May the company unveiled a plan to scale down operations at the Barbican Arts Centre in London and mount productions in a wider range of theatres.

The aim is to make the RSC more flexible, but the possibility of job losses in both London and Stratford-upon-Avon has meant the threat of strike action has hung over the company ever since.

At the time Mr Noble said that the only way to keep arts institutions "fresh and relevant" was to "break the mould".

The RSC spokewoman said that Mr Hands had been considering his position since the announcements were made in May.

'Strike'

In September a strike of technical staff at Stratford, in protest at the changes and job cuts, threatened to disrupt performances.

The strike was averted at the last minute but negotiations are ongoing.

Bectu supervisory official Willy Donaghy said at the time: "If the members are not happy with the package on offer, there is no guarantee they will not strike on future occasions."