Peter Hall

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This article is about the British theatre director. for other people called Peter Hall see Peter Hall (disambiguation)

Sir Peter Reginald Frederick Hall CBE (born 22 November 1930) is an English theatre and film director.

He was born in Bury St. Edmunds, England and learned Russian at the Joint Services School for Linguists during his National Service. He produced and acted in several productions while at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1953 from St Catharine's College. During the same year, he staged his first professional play at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.

From 1954 to 1955 he was at the Oxford Playhouse where he directed the young Ronnie Barker. In August 1955, he directed the English-language premiere of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett at the Arts Theatre, London. During 1956–1959, he then ran that theatre. He was at Stratford-on-Avon for the 1957 to 1959 seasons. Here, his productions included: Cymbeline with Peggy Ashcroft; Coriolanus with Laurence Olivier and Edith Evans; and A Midsummer Night's Dream with Charles Laughton.

Hall is best known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company which he founded in 1960, at the age of only 29. He served as its artistic director from that time until 1968. He was director of the Royal National Theatre from 1973 to 1988. After leaving the National Theatre he founded his own company.

His latest project is as director of The Rose of Kingston due to open in 2007 which draws design inspiration from The Rose theatre. Even in its basic shell prior to fit out, it has seen a sell out run of his production of As You Like It.

He was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1963 and in 1977 was knighted for his services to the theatre. In 1999, he was presented with a Laurence Olivier Award. He was appointed Chancellor of Kingston University in 2000.

Hall has been married four times, including marriages to the actress Leslie Caron, and the opera singer Maria Ewing. His diaries were published in 1983. One of his children is the actress Rebecca Hall.

[edit] Selected productions

Amadeus Dec 15, 1999 - May 14, 2000

An Ideal Husband May 1, 1996 - Jan 26, 1997

Four Baboons Adoring the Sun Mar 18, 1992 - Apr 19, 1992

The Merchant of Venice Dec 19, 1989 - Mar 10, 1990

Orpheus Descending Sep 24, 1989 - Dec 17, 1989

Wild Honey Dec 18, 1986 - Jan 11, 1987

The Petition Apr 24, 1986 - Jun 29, 1986

Amadeus (World premiere at The Royal National Theatre) Dec 17, 1980 - Oct 16, 1983

Betrayal Jan 5, 1980 - May 31, 1980

Bedroom Farce (Originally produced by The Royal National Theatre) Mar 29, 1979 - Nov 24, 1979

No Man's Land (Originally produced by The Royal National Theatre) Nov 9, 1976 - Dec 18, 1976

The Misanthrope (Originally produced by The Royal National Theatre) Mar 12, 1975 - May 31, 1975

As You Like It (Produced by arrangement with The Royal National Theatre) Dec 3, 1974 - Dec 8, 1974

Saturday Sunday Monday (Produced by arrangement with The Royal National Theatre) Nov 21, 1974 - Nov 30, 1974

Via Galactica (Conceived by Peter Hall) Nov 28, 1972 - Dec 2, 1972

Old Times Nov 16, 1971 - Feb 26, 1972

The Homecoming (Original production by Peter Hall; By arrangement with the Governors of The Royal Shakespeare Company) Jan 5, 1967 - Oct 14, 1967

Waiting For Godot (English-language premiere) (at the Arts Theatre) Aug 1955

[edit] External links

• Peter Hall at the Internet Movie Database
• Peter Hall at the Notable Names Database
• Fathom biography
• Godot almighty by Peter Hall