Peter Hall

Brought Waiting For Godot to the stage in 1955, the play which transformed him into a theatrical sensation. Established the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and London in 1960, running it for 15 years. Was awarded Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1963 and was knighted in 1977 for his theatre services. Was director of the National Theatre from 1973 to 1988. Directed the operas Cosi Fan Tutte in 1978 and Der Ring das Nibelungen in 1983. Was artistic director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera from 1984 to 1990. His autobiography Making an Exhibition of Myself was published in 1993. Formed the Peter Hall Company in 1998 and directed it until 2011. Held the Wotham Chair in Performing Arts at the University of Houston from 1999 to 2002. Was Chancellor of Kingston University from 2000 to 2013. Has worked professionally with all his children, including co-directing a theatre production of Tantalus with Edward Hall in 2000. Became founding member of the Rose Theatre Kingston in 2003. Was elected Member of the Athens Academy for Services to Greek Drama in 2004. In 2005, was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Was made a freeman of the City of London in 2010, an entitlement which began in 1237 and is bestowed on valued members of the community. Along with actor Benedict Cumberbatch, he protested against the cuts to arts funding at the Evening Standard theatre awards in London in 2010. Was diagnosed with dementia in 2011 and retired from public life. Was awarded honorary doctorates from universities including Cambridge, York, Liverpool, Bath and London.