Peter Hall

Sir Peter Reginald Frederick Hall CBE 22 November 1930 11 September 2017 was an English theatre opera and film director His obituary in The Times declared him the most important figure in British theatre for half a century and on his death a Royal National Theatre statement declared that Halls influence on the artistic life of Britain in the 20th century was unparalleled In 2018 the Laurence Olivier Awards recognising achievements in London theatre changed the award for Best Director to the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director In 1955 Hall introduced London audiences to the work of Samuel Beckett with the UK premiere of Waiting for Godot Hall founded the Royal Shakespeare Company 196068 and went on to build an international reputation in theatre opera film and television He was director of the National Theatre 197388 and artistic director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera 19841990 He formed the Peter Hall Company 19982011 and became founding director of the Rose Theatre Kingston in 2003 Throughout his career he was a tenacious champion of public funding for the arts