Hall, Sir Peter

Hall, Sir Peter (Reginald Frederick)

(born Nov. 22, 1930, Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, Eng.) British theatre, opera, and film director. After producing and acting in plays at Cambridge University, he entered the professional theatre. At London's Arts Theatre (1955–56) he staged London premieres of important continental plays. Especially renowned for his Shakespearean productions, he was managing director of the Royal Shakespeare Co. (1962–68) and continued to direct plays for it long afterward. He succeeded Laurence Olivier as managing director of London's National Theatre (1973–88). He formed his own theatrical production company in 1988 and also directed operas and several films.