After just six months in the gig, actor and director David Storch has resigned as the artistic director of Toronto's Canadian Stage Company.

"It has become clear to me that the demands of artistic director of this company are not ones which I feel are in my creative interests to pursue," Storch said in a statement released by Canadian Stage.

"Having discussed it with my colleagues at the company, they understand and have accepted my resignation."

Martin Bragg, artistic producer of Canadian Stage, said that despite Storch's resignation, Storch will still direct the company's upcoming, season-ending production of Misery, a stage adaptation of the Stephen King novel, and remain a player "behind the scenes in 2008-2009 and beyond."

"We have come to rely on David's considerable skills as an artist, and are thrilled that we may continue to depend on him in the future," Bragg said.

Just last May, Canadian Stage announced a change in its management structure, splitting off certain tasks that formerly rested solely on the shoulders of Bragg into the new artistic director position — a change that was necessary because of significant increases in the company's budget and attendance, organizers said.

"I need to get out from under the day-to-day stuff," Bragg said at the time.

The company also announced a return to its original, longer moniker, from the shorter CanStage.

Storch had been with the company for nearly 20 seasons as a Dora Award-winning actor, director and artistic consultant before starting as artistic director in July.

His most recent credits include directing the current production of Judith Thompson's Palace of the End, which continues through Feb. 23.

Bragg said the search for a new artistic director will begin "in the near future."