Dick Penny
Encyclopedia
Dick Penny MBE
is an arts administrator, consultant and producer, based in Bristol
, England
. Before his involvement in the arts, he worked in manufacturing industry, computer programming and the building trade.
and educated at Monmouth School and Ross-on-Wye Grammar School. His first job in the theatre was as administrator of the Little Theatre Company (1980–1983), which he set up with a group of Bristol Old Vic
actors to keep the Little Theatre, in the municipally owned Colston Hall
complex, going as a professional venue. His duties included everything from set building to front of house. Notable productions included Raymond Briggs
' 1983 adaptation of his own book When the Wind Blows
, based on the UK Government civil defence
booklet Protect and Survive
, which transferred to the Whitehall Theatre.
Between 1986 and 1988 Penny was the Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic
with a brief to develop programme and audience. From 1991 to 1993 he was director of Watershed Media Centre
, the UK's first media centre. He has been a board member of the Ashton Court Festival
, Circomedia
and Bristol +
. Penny has stated that he has "a passion for Bristol and a drive to make the city a more exciting, open and inter-connected place to live, work and play."
In the 1990s Penny's production company Rebbeck Penny co-produced Macbeth
, starring Pete Postlethwaite
, with Bristol Old Vic for a UK tour, and in 2001 Scaramouche Jones, which also starred Postlethwaite, for a UK and world tour. In 2007 he took over as Executive Chair of Bristol Old Vic with the main objective of reopening England's longest running theatre. He is currently the Managing Director of the Watershed Media Centre
, an organisation he re-joined in 1998.
Penny is also founding director of Bristol +
, a creative partnership board made up of public sector officials and creative entrepreneurs. In 2010 he was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Bristol
and the University of the West of England
. He was awarded an MBE
for services to the creative industries in Bristol in the 2011 New Year's Honours List.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
is an arts administrator, consultant and producer, based in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Before his involvement in the arts, he worked in manufacturing industry, computer programming and the building trade.
Biography
Penny was born in Droitwich SpaDroitwich Spa
Droitwich Spa is a town in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe.The town is situated on massive deposits of salt, and salt has been extracted there since ancient times. The natural Droitwich brine contains 2½ lbs...
and educated at Monmouth School and Ross-on-Wye Grammar School. His first job in the theatre was as administrator of the Little Theatre Company (1980–1983), which he set up with a group of Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
actors to keep the Little Theatre, in the municipally owned Colston Hall
Colston Hall
The Colston Hall is a concert hall and grade II listed building situated on Colston Street, Bristol, England. A popular venue catering for a variety of different entertainers, it seats approximately 2,075 and provides licensed bars, a café and restaurant....
complex, going as a professional venue. His duties included everything from set building to front of house. Notable productions included Raymond Briggs
Raymond Briggs
Raymond Redvers Briggs is an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist, and author who has achieved critical and popular success among adults and children...
' 1983 adaptation of his own book When the Wind Blows
When the Wind Blows
When the Wind Blows is a 1982 graphic novel, by British artist Raymond Briggs, that shows a nuclear attack on Britain by the Soviet Union from the viewpoint of a retired couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs. The book was later made into an animated film.-Plot:...
, based on the UK Government civil defence
Civil defense
Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...
booklet Protect and Survive
Protect and Survive
Protect and Survive was a public information series on civil defence produced by the British government during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was intended to inform British citizens on how to protect themselves during a nuclear attack, and consisted of a mixture of pamphlets, radio broadcasts,...
, which transferred to the Whitehall Theatre.
Between 1986 and 1988 Penny was the Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
with a brief to develop programme and audience. From 1991 to 1993 he was director of Watershed Media Centre
Watershed Media Centre
Watershed opened in June 1982 as the United Kingdom's first dedicated media centre. Based in former warehouses on the harbourside at Bristol, it hosts three cinemas, a café/bar, events/conferencing spaces, and office spaces for administrative and creative staff. It occupies the former V and W sheds...
, the UK's first media centre. He has been a board member of the Ashton Court Festival
Ashton Court Festival
The Ashton Court Festival was an outdoor music festival held annually in mid-July on the grounds of Ashton Court, just outside Bristol, England. The festival was a weekend event which featured a variety of local bands and national headliners...
, Circomedia
Circomedia
Circomedia is a school for contemporary circus and physical theatre based in Bristol, England. The school offers a variety of training courses and workshops that teach circus skills in the context of physical theatre, performance and creativity....
and Bristol +
Bristol +
Bristol+ is a partnership board made up of media, creative and technology professionals, politicians and local government officers in Bristol, England...
. Penny has stated that he has "a passion for Bristol and a drive to make the city a more exciting, open and inter-connected place to live, work and play."
In the 1990s Penny's production company Rebbeck Penny co-produced Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, starring Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, was an English stage, film and television actor.After minor television appearances including in The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He played a mysterious lawyer, Mr...
, with Bristol Old Vic for a UK tour, and in 2001 Scaramouche Jones, which also starred Postlethwaite, for a UK and world tour. In 2007 he took over as Executive Chair of Bristol Old Vic with the main objective of reopening England's longest running theatre. He is currently the Managing Director of the Watershed Media Centre
Watershed Media Centre
Watershed opened in June 1982 as the United Kingdom's first dedicated media centre. Based in former warehouses on the harbourside at Bristol, it hosts three cinemas, a café/bar, events/conferencing spaces, and office spaces for administrative and creative staff. It occupies the former V and W sheds...
, an organisation he re-joined in 1998.
Penny is also founding director of Bristol +
Bristol +
Bristol+ is a partnership board made up of media, creative and technology professionals, politicians and local government officers in Bristol, England...
, a creative partnership board made up of public sector officials and creative entrepreneurs. In 2010 he was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and the University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
. He was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for services to the creative industries in Bristol in the 2011 New Year's Honours List.