Toronto's Canadian Stage Company has added a new artistic director and general manager to its staff, splitting off some of the tasks that used to rest solely on the shoulders of artistic producer Martin Bragg.

Bragg continues as artistic producer of the theatre company, which has had three big hits in the past season with Half Life, The Overcoat and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

David Storch, who has been with the company for the past 18 seasons, most recently as artistic consultant, becomes artistic director.

David Abel, who has been executive producer with the company since 1998, remains executive producer and takes on the role of general manager. The last general manager of the company left six months ago.

The 20-year-old company is changing its name back to Canadian Stage, from the shorter CanStage. It also plans a $3-million upgrade to the interior of its Bluma Appel Theatre.

Bragg said the change in management structure was necessary because the company's budget has doubled in size over the past decade, climbing to $12 million a year from $6 million.

Attendance has also climbed over the past season, Bragg said.

The positions of artistic director and managing director were combined in 1992 and Bragg took on the dual role.

"It's too intense. I need to get out from under the day-to-day stuff," he said in an interview with CBC Arts Online.

Storch will take on the role of representing Canadian Stage in the artistic community as well as contributing to artistic direction, Bragg said.

Under the new structure Bragg said he would remain as chief executive of the company, but would be free to focus on "the future direction of the company."