Richard Digby Day
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Richard Digby Day (born 27 December 1938)musicals have also been notable.
Early life and career
Digby Day was born in
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, becoming their first student of direction.[4][5] He graduated in 1963.[6] Prior to attending RADA, he appeared as an actor in the role of Swiss Cheese in the Midlands premiere of Brecht's Mother Courage in Stratford-upon-Avon, 1961.[7] He is a contemporary of British actor Ian McKellen,[8]
and the two began their professional careers working on many of the same productions with Digby Day serving as assistant director.
Artistic Directorships
Digby Day has been Artistic Director of five UK theatres: the
Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park (from 1966 to 1974);[9] the Welsh National Theatre Company (from 1969 to 1971); the York Theatre Royal (from 1971 to 1976); the Nottingham Playhouse (from 1980 to 1984);[10] and the Northcott Theatre, (from 1977 to 1980).[5]
Additionally, his work has been seen in the
J M Barrie's Peter Pan. He directed Geraldine McEwan at the National Theatre in Two Inches of Ivory, a production about Jane Austen that has been seen all over the world under the auspices of the British Council
, the UK's official international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
Career as a Professor
Richard Digby Day has taught and lectured in the UK and in North America. From 2003 to 2012 he was Director of the London Dramatic Academy of
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, as well as the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the graduate program of Columbia University
where he directed the Shakespeare Project for two years.
From 1998–2002, he was Principal of the London Academy of Theatre, a classical theatre program for American students in the UK. From 1990 to 1998, he was director of the
Drama League of New York and helped found their Directors Project. In 1997 he was named Adjunct Professor of Theater at Connecticut College
where he had worked since 1984.
He is credited with discovering actors Ralph Fiennes and Hugh Grant.[8]
References
- ^ "Richard Digby DAY". Companies House. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (2 August 2023). "The Shaw Society Welcomes Theatre Icons Dame Sian Phillips and Patricia Hodge OBE as Newly Elected Trustees" BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Digby Day, Richard". "né Richard Day; s of Donald Day and Doris Mary Day (née George) freelance director, since 1984; Director, London Dramatic Academy, 2003–12 Education Rhiwbina Jun. Sch., Cardiff; Solihull Sch., Warks; Royal Acad. of Dramatic Art (Leverhulme School; first student of direction)". Who's Who. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Theatre Archive Project: Interview with Richard Digby Day" (PDF). British Library. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Graduate Profile - Richard Digby Day". rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Shout it from the Rooftops," Stratford-upon-Avon Herald, April 1961.
- ^ a b "Internationally renowned theatrical directors to visit Marion". Ohio State University (osu.edu). Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "Our Heritage: Richard Digby Day". Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ Hutchinson, Charles (4 October 2022)."Fifty years on from first making his mark at York Theatre Royal, Richard Digby Day reflects on a life in the changing arts world", CharlesHutchPress.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
External links
- Interview with Richard Digby Day - a British Library Theatre Archive Project sound recording