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47-565: Each winner enters into a development process with the Royal Exchange Theatre in an endeavour to bring their work to production. There have been co-productions with Lyric Hammersmith , Live Theatre, Soho Theatre, Bush Theatre , Orange Tree Theatre , Sherman Theatre, High Tide and the Royal Court Theatre . Work has also gone on to be produced internationally from Australia, USA, Germany, France, to Canada and Sweden. In addition to

94-473: A London Theatre venue. The shortlisted scripts are judged by a prestigious panel of figures from across the arts industry. Until his death in 2019, Michael Oglesby CBE DL, founder of the Bruntwood Group and chairman of The Oglesby Charitable Trust participated in every Judging panel. Acting Artistic Directors of the Royal Exchange Theatre also participate in every panel. Alongside Joint Artistic Director of

141-483: A believer, but I do think it is a significant part of my adventure and it fascinates me. I couldn't say I'm a member of the Jewish community or gay community in that I don't seek out either of those communities to hang out with, but it is an important part of who I believe myself to [be]." Hytner's mother, Joyce Hytner OBE, is a theatrical fundraiser, who has served on the board of many organisations including The Old Vic ,

188-557: A high proportion of winning and shortlisted plays being produced professionally, each of the top 100 plays receives individual feedback from the Royal Exchange Theatre’s creative team. Its alumni include some the UK’s most respected playwrights such as Duncan Macmillan and Alistair McDowall. The Bruntwood Prize is biennial. All plays are submitted anonymously to the competition and are read by an expert panel of readers appointed by

235-404: A historic average of 65%, with no loss in overall income, and with encouraging a younger and more diverse audience. In 2003 it was reported that one third of the audience for the multiracial production of Henry V in modern dress (directed by Hytner) had never been to the theatre before, and that a large section of the audience for the drama Elmina's Kitchen were Black east Londoners new to

282-453: A huge lark... It was gigantic, and I was into gigantic at the time, so I threw everything I knew at it. It was big, honest, moving, brash, kind of crazy. I had no idea that it would take off." Hytner's London production of Miss Saigon opened on 20 September 1989, and closed on 30 October 1999 after just over ten years, on its 4,274th performance, having grossed more than £150 million in ticket sales during its London run. Hytner also directed

329-513: A later stage to see how it's all going." (Hytner does also direct plays himself at the National, and all his theatre work since 2003 has originated there.) But his role is also about the overall direction of the National Theatre as an organisation. "It would be wrong to say that I confine myself only to the repertoire – I don't. I think how we allocate our resources, exactly what we spend money on,

376-500: A new Director. I had a long conversation with Christopher Hogg, then Chairman of the NT Board, and Tom Stoppard about my ideas for the NT's future. These included a redefinition of how it might be possible to use the theatre spaces and opening up the NT to new audiences by lowering prices for some performances." Hytner was successful in his application for the post, and his appointment as Director

423-403: A play or novel, having been based on an original screenplay. He also spent 15 months developing a film of the musical Chicago , to star Madonna , but the project foundered and was later made with a different director and cast . When Trevor Nunn announced that he would be leaving the National Theatre, Hytner "really felt that this time I had a strong sense of what the NT should be doing under

470-417: A role and as I didn't have this kind of idea at that time, I decided not to apply," Hytner said later. He continued as an Associate Director at the National until 1997, when the new Director, Trevor Nunn , took up his post. Hytner directed more films: The Crucible (1996) with Daniel Day-Lewis , The Object of My Affection (1998) and Center Stage (2000). The last of these was not an adaptation from

517-556: A search by the Prize and leading theatre critic Lyn Gardner, to bring an audience member’s perspective to the judging process. Chaired by broadcaster Kirsty Lang the 2017 judges were: Associated Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Matthew Xia; playwright and former Bruntwood winner, Phil Porter; screenwriter and producer, Russell T Davies; playwright Lucy Prebble; director Lyndsey Turner; and actor, Alfred Enoch. Chaired by Nicholas Hytner , former Artistic Director, National Theatre;

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564-421: A theatre practitioner. "I think I'm a theatre director who does other stuff," he has said. "I can't see myself as a film-maker. I love doing opera when ever I've done it, but I always see myself as visiting from the theatre, which is where I belong. The real film-maker thinks with a camera, which is something I just can't do." Hytner is gay. Although brought up in a Jewish household, Hytner said in 2010, "I'm not

611-592: A theatrical space. Hytner has worked extensively in opera, with many of his productions achieving critical acclaim and commercial success – his English National Opera staging of The Magic Flute was in repertory for 25 years. But Hytner has described himself (to an opera-related audience) as "someone who is unimpressed by his own work on the operatic stage". Similarly, most of Hytner's films have achieved critical and commercial success, with The Madness of King George winning BAFTA and Evening Standard awards for best British film, but he still sees himself as primarily

658-448: Is also known for directing films such as The Madness of King George (1994), The Crucible (1996), The History Boys (2006), and The Lady in the Van (2015). Hytner was knighted in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to drama by Queen Elizabeth II . Hytner was born in the prosperous suburbs of south Manchester in 1956, to barrister Benet Hytner and his wife, Joyce . He

705-452: Is always an artistic decision. I think the amount of attention we give to what goes on in the foyers, what goes on outside, how the building looks at night, the amount of attention we give to our education work and our website are all artistic matters. They all stem from a sense of the artistic direction of the organization." Under Hytner's directorship, the National has innovated with Sunday openings, live cinema broadcasts of NT plays around

752-550: Is divided into five strands: (Source: the Lyric official website ) Nicholas Hytner Sir Nicholas Robert Hytner ( / ˈ h aɪ t n ər / HYTE -nər ; born 7 May 1956) is an English theatre director, film director, and film producer. He was previously the Artistic Director of London's National Theatre . His major successes as director include Miss Saigon , The History Boys and One Man, Two Guvnors . He

799-458: Is made up of theatre professionals, skilled in reading scripts. They include directors, designers, dramaturges and literary managers at leading producing theatres, actors, national critics and theatre commentators and previous Bruntwood Prize winners (the only playwrights to read- as they are no longer eligible to enter the Prize) Since inception in 2015, multiple Awards have been given- including

846-454: Is the eldest child of four, and has described his upbringing as being in "a typical Jewish, cultured family". He attended Manchester Grammar School and went to university at Trinity Hall, Cambridge , where he studied English. He did some acting while at university, including co-scripting and performing in a televised production of the 1977 Cambridge Footlights Revue. However, Hytner did not consider acting his strong point. "I think I

893-711: The Criterion Theatre , the Royal Court Theatre and Historic Royal Palaces . As a Director adapted by Hytner 2025 Harold Pinter Theatre Hytner is on the Board of Trustees of the Royal Opera House. He is a patron of many organisations including London International Festival of Theatre , HighTide Festival Theatre , the Shakespeare Schools Festival , Dance UK, Action for Children's Arts, Pan Intercultural Arts and Prisoners' Penfriends. He

940-598: The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester , a position he retained until 1989. Hytner was hired by producer Cameron Mackintosh to direct Miss Saigon , the next work from Les Misérables creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg . "I had seen several of Nick's opera productions – Handel's 'Xerxes' and Mozart's 'Magic Flute' – as well as some of his classical plays, and he has a marvellously visual point of view," Mackintosh said. For Hytner, "It just felt like

987-518: The 2015 Prize judges were: Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Sarah Frankcom; playwright and former Bruntwood winner, Vivienne Franzmann; Artistic Director, Actors Touring Company, Ramin Gray; playwright Bryony Lavery; writer and broadcaster, Miranda Sawyer ; and actor and writer, Meera Syal CBE. Chaired by Broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray the 2013 Prize judges were: award-winning playwrights David Eldridge and Tanika Gupta MBE; Associate Director of

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1034-612: The Bruntwood Prize, and Judges Award. • An International Award of £8,000- open to international playwrights invited to anonymously apply via named international partners: The BANFF Centre in Canada; Belvoir Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company in Australia; Berkeley Rep and Playwrights Horizons in the USA. As of 2017, the judges can also choose to award Commendations of £4,000 and a funded reading at

1081-666: The National Theatre at the end of March 2015. In his role as Director of National Theatre, he appeared on the Cultural Exchange as part of the Radio Four programme Front Row , where he chose The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart as his work of art. Hytner and Nick Starr founded the London Theatre Company opening a new 900-seat adaptable commercial theatre, Bridge Theatre near Tower Bridge in October 2017. Hytner directed

1128-664: The National Theatre, Marianne Elliott; actress, Suranne Jones; Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Greg Hersov; and theatre critic, Benedict Nightingale. The judging panel was chaired by playwright Simon Stephens and included, Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom, writer Jackie Kay, and actors Sue Johnston and Maxine Peake. The judging panel was chaired by actor and director Richard Wilson and included actress Brenda Blethyn OBE, actor Michael Sheen, film director Roger Michell, playwright Roy Williams, and Royal Exchange Artistic Director Greg Hersov. Judges were chaired by Chris Smith MP and consisted of Brenda Blythyn OBE,

1175-467: The National. Hytner has said that this diversity is a consequence of the theatre's direction rather than the motivation for it. "I think our repertoire is more diverse than it's ever been," he said, "and I think that reflects a more diverse society and a more diverse audience. The aim, though, was not to go out and find a diverse audience but for the repertoire to reflect a greater diversity in our culture." He has also said: "The rep[ertoire] should reflect

1222-549: The New York production, where the show recouped its $ 10.9m investment in 39 weeks. The show, at New York's Broadway Theatre , opened on 11 April 1991 and closed on 28 January 2001 after 4,092 performances. Hytner was on a percentage for both London and New York productions, allowing him (then aged 34) to never need worry about money again. "It was a huge– a massive stroke of fortune," he said in 2010. "It meant that thereafter I only needed to do what I wanted to do." What Hytner did

1269-508: The Royal Exchange Theatre Bryony Shanahan, judges include: Kwame Kwei-Armah (Chair), Anna Jordan, Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright; Bridget Minamore , journalist, poet and critic; Jenny Sealey MBE, Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre Company; Kate Vokes, Director of Social Impact, Bruntwood and actor Shane Zaza. New to the panel this year is "The People's Judge", Faith Yianni, a member of the public selected following

1316-401: The Royal Exchange Theatre. There is an extensive five-stage process to the reading before creating the shortlist. The final panel of readers, including key artistic staff from the Royal Exchange Theatre, compile a shortlist of 15 plays for the judges to consider. The judges receive the shortlist of scripts and appoint winners. The judging panel has no knowledge about the writers of each script and

1363-596: The UK and Republic of Ireland, blogs and long-form articles from playwrights and stage writing tutorials. In 2015 they launch the a regular series of Livestream workshops hosted by leading playwrights. In 2019 the first 'Toolkit' series to take a writer through writing a play for the first time Lyric Hammersmith The Lyric Theatre , also known as the Lyric Hammersmith , is a nonprofit theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street , Hammersmith , London. The Lyric Theatre

1410-407: The changing needs of theatre artists and audiences. Hytner stated as early as 2010 that he did not wish to stay as head of the National indefinitely, saying, "I've been here seven years. My predecessors have averaged 12. It's important that someone else comes in and shakes it up again so I won't be here in 10 years, that's for sure." In April 2013, he announced that he would step down as Director of

1457-570: The inaugural production of Young Marx followed by productions such as the hit immersive revivals of William Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar in 2018, A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2019 and Guys and Dolls which ran from March 2023 until January 2025. The London Theatre Company also opened another venue with 59 Productions , The Lightroom in King's Cross, London in February 2023 used for immersive artist-led exhibitions which will also eventually become

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1504-668: The local community completed in 2015, designed by Rick Mather Architects and was nominated in the 'community benefit' and 'tourism and leisure' categories at the RICS Awards 2016, London. In 2011, the Lyric won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for Sean Holmes ' production of Sarah Kane 's Blasted . In September 2018, it was announced that Sean Holmes would be succeeded as artistic director in February 2019 by Rachel O'Riordan . The Lyric's programme

1551-751: The much loved actress, Director of the National Theatre Nicholas Hynter, actor, playwright and singer Kwame Kwei Armah, and The Founding Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre Company Braham Murray A pilot version of the prize, running in the North West area of the UK only, was won by playwright Nicola Schofield in 2003. To support writers to create scripts for the stage, the Bruntwood Prize provides free to access resources on their website. These include; promoting opportunities and events for playwrights around

1598-465: The original design which hosts its main productions; and the 120-seat Studio , which houses smaller productions by up-and-coming companies. The Lyric also presents frequent Lyric Children and Lyric Music performances as well as Sunday Night Comedy . Its current artistic director is Rachel O'Riordan , and its executive director is Amy Belson. The Lyric has recently gone through a major redevelopment project, with new facilities for young people and

1645-487: The overall Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting and the Judges Awards. As of 2019 the categories are: • The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting-a first prize of £16,000 • A Judges' Awards of £8,000 • An Original New Voice Award of £8,000- available to playwrights who have not had full-length play professionally produced for 12 performances or more in a professional venue. All scripts entered by these playwrights are also eligible for

1692-441: The reading process to ensure that each script is seen by readers with different ages, genders, work history, ethnicities and interests. The aim of the Prize is to find great plays in whatever shape or form they appear so the entry criteria are deliberately broad to allow first time writers and more experienced playwrights to be assessed on a level footing. Of the 2019 readers, who chose to provided information; The cohort of readers

1739-405: The retitled The Madness of King George (1994) became Hytner's film debut. In 1994, Eyre announced he would be leaving the National Theatre in three years' time. "[It] made me begin to think about the vision that is needed in such a position and the fact that this needs refreshing under every directorate. I very much felt that you had to have a big idea in order to put yourself forward for such

1786-510: The world we're part of, and it should put the society in which we live in the context of the past and, as far as we can, of the wider world." Hytner's latest innovation is NT Future , a £70 million scheme (of which £59 million had been raised at October 2012) to open up the National's building and to contribute to the regeneration of the South Bank , to transform facilities for education and participation, and to keep ahead of new technologies and

1833-466: The world, National Theatre Live , and with its reduced price ticket seasons. These seasons, sponsored by Travelex , have offered large numbers of reduced price seats (for £10 when the scheme was introduced in 2003, with prices rising to £12 from 2011). The reduced price seasons were credited with achieving high usage for the Olivier auditorium – between 90% and 100% full during the summer months compared to

1880-433: The writers are only revealed when the judging process is complete. The readers as a cohort have a broad range of experiences and specialisms to try and give each submitted script the best chance. The submitted scripts therefore go through a rigorous process to make it to the longlist and shortlist; As each script proceeds through the phases of reading it is addressed by a diverse team of readers. The Royal Exchange manages

1927-548: Was announced in September 2001. He took over from Nunn in April 2003. Hytner's role as Director of the National involves decisions about what plays are staged. "Essentially what I do is produce 20 shows a year here," he stated in one interview. "To produce as opposed to direct, as I generate the ideas, generate the repertoire. What I do is put together the team that are going to stage the repertoire together then stand back and come in at

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1974-456: Was due to be closed and demolished. However, a successful campaign to save it led to the auditorium being dismantled and reinstalled piece by piece within a modern shell on its current site on King Street a short distance from the former Bradmore Grove location. The relocated theatre opened in 1979. It has two main performance areas: the Main House , a 565-seat 19th-century auditorium maintaining

2021-526: Was elected an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 2005, and was Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University in 2000–01. Hytner was knighted in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to drama. In Spring 2014, the Royal Northern College of Music announced it was to confer Honorary Membership of the College upon Hytner. In 2014 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of

2068-613: Was in opera, including at Kent Opera , Wexford Festival Opera and a production of Rienzi at English National Opera . His first theatre productions were at the Northcott Theatre , Exeter . He then directed a series of productions at the Leeds Playhouse , including The Ruling Class by Peter Barnes , an adaptation of Tom Jones and a musical version of Alice in Wonderland . In 1985 he became an Associate Director of

2115-460: Was originally a music hall established in 1888 on Bradmore Grove, Hammersmith. Success as an entertainment venue led it to be rebuilt and enlarged on the same site twice, firstly in 1890 and then in 1895 by the English theatrical architect Frank Matcham . The 1895 reopening, as The New Lyric Opera House, was accompanied by an opening address by the famous actress Lillie Langtry . In 1966 the theatre

2162-495: Was savvy enough when I went to Cambridge to discover I was a poor actor," he said later. He also did some directing, including a production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill 's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny . After leaving Cambridge, Hytner's first "proper paid job" was as assistant to Colin Graham at English National Opera . Some of his earliest professional directing work

2209-429: Was to continue directing theatre and opera, including several productions at London's National Theatre (where he had first directed in 1989 with Ghetto ). In 1990, he was appointed an Associate Director of the National by its then-Director Richard Eyre . One of the plays he directed was Alan Bennett 's The Madness of George III . When a film adaptation was commissioned, Bennett insisted Hytner should direct it, and

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