Remembering
Philip Hedley
Director Emeritus
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Remembering
Philip Hedley
Director Emeritus
Theatre Royal Stratford East
We are sad to announce the passing of our dear friend Philip Hedley. Please feel free to post your condolences by following the link below.
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Artistic Director of
Theatre Royal Stratford East
from 1979 to 2004
HIGHLIGHTS
Philip's Journey into Directing
Philip Hedley was lucky, in the early sixties, to discover the ground-breaking work of recognised theatrical genius Joan Littlewood. He became a founding student of East 15 Acting School devoted to her methods, and he went on to put them into practice in British theatres in the regions, in London’s West End, and also in Australia, Canada and the Sudan.
In 1979 Philip finally accepted what many thought was his fated role in British theatre and became Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal Stratford East, which Joan Littlewood had made world famous.
Philip's Reviews
“As every theatre director knows, staying on the tightrope in the current climate demands extraordinarily canny programming. The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a splendid example of just that. It constantly overhauls its profile to reflect the concerns and tastes of it’s hugely varied East End constituency. The Artistic Director Philip Hedley has been placing the initiative in the hands of young local artists. Hot on the heels of two young Black groups comes “D’Yer Eat With Your Fingers ?!”, a show by Young Black Asians. The first night was buzzing with YBAs, but not exclusively, and this is perhaps the most important thing about such programming : audiences learn about other cultures.”
The Independent, 1995
Philip's Reviews
“As every theatre director knows, staying on the tightrope in the current climate demands extraordinarily canny programming. The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a splendid example of just that. It constantly overhauls it’s profile to reflect the concerns and tastes of it’s hugely varied East End constituency. The Artistic Director Philip Hedley has been placing the initiative in the hands of young local artists. Hot on the heels of two young Black groups comes “D’Yer Eat With Your Fingers ?!”, a show by Young Black Asians. The first night was buzzing with YBAs, but not exclusively, and this is perhaps the most important thing about such programming : audiences learn about other cultures.”
The Independent, 1995
WORK
Gallery
The Oddest Couple
2004
D'YER EAT WITH YOUR FINGERS?
1994
What A Bleedin' Liberty
1996
EL DORADO
1984
The Lost Ring
1987
BETTER TIMES
1985
CAMPAIGNING
A Champion of Theatre
Philip Hedley became known as a risk-taker. He trusted new young talent to an extraordinary degree. He provoked members of parliament into questioning his theatre’s right to receive public money. He risked staging the first production in English of Garcia Lorca’s controversial play, ‘The Public’, in defiance of a new law against staging plays for young people which dealt with homosexuality. Philip astonished the world of American musical theatre by staging the classic musical, ‘The Boys From Syracuse’, and up-dating the music with rap and hip-hop.
CAMPAIGNING
A Champion of Theatre
Philip Hedley became known as a risk-taker. He trusted new young talent to an extraordinary degree. He provoked members of parliament into questioning his theatre’s right to receive public money. He risked staging the first production in English of Garcia Lorca’s controversial play, ‘The Public’, in defiance of a new law against staging plays for young people which dealt with homosexuality. Philip astonished the world of American musical theatre by staging the classic musical, ‘The Boys From Syracuse’, and up-dating the music with rap and hip-hop.