Stephen Barry
Encyclopedia
The British drama producer and artistic director Stephen Leon Reid Barry (4 July1945 – 18 October 2000) was chief executive of two important Edinburgh
theatres, the Festival
and the King's
, prime venues of the famed Edinburgh International Festival
. In his short career, he also supervised artistic live-theatre rejuvenations at The Playhouse Theatre (Perth)
, Australia, the Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)
and the Theatre Royal, Bath
.
. His father, Gerald, was editor of the News Chronicle
, and his first contact with the theatre was through his mother, the actress Vera Lindsay
. He was educated at Marlborough College
and Manchester University. In 1973, he married Jacqueline Lindsay with whom he had one son and one daughter.
at the Mermaid Theatre
, served as assistant director at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
, Guildford, and was a staff director at the National Theatre
under Laurence Olivier
at the Old Vic
.
In 1974, aged 29, he took up his first artistic directorship for a theatre in Harrogate
. Four years later, he accepted the challenge of rejuvenating The National Theatre at the Playhouse
in Perth
, Western Australia
. In that role he created many very successful presentations including a season of Death of a Salesman
with Warren Mitchell
, and sellout performances of Pam Gems
's musical Piaf
with Judy Davis
. He also commissioned and produced a controversial Dorothy Hewett
play, The Man from Muckinupin for Western Australia's 150th anniversary (WAY '79).
In 1982, he returned to the UK to serve as artistic director with the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham until 1986, and then the Theatre Royal, Bath
.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
theatres, the Festival
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is a performing arts venue located on Nicolson Street in Edinburgh Scotland used primarily for performances of opera and ballet, large-scale musical events, and touring groups. After its most recent renovation in 1994, it seats 1,915...
and the King's
King's Theatre, Edinburgh
The King's Theatre was opened in 1906 and stands on a prominent site on Leven Street in Edinburgh. It is one of Scotland's historic and most important theatres...
, prime venues of the famed Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
. In his short career, he also supervised artistic live-theatre rejuvenations at The Playhouse Theatre (Perth)
The Playhouse Theatre (Perth)
The Playhouse Theatre in central Perth, Western Australia was purpose-built for live theatre in the 1950s and remained one of the city's principle venues for performing arts for over half a century until replaced by the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in January 2011.-History:The theatre...
, Australia, the Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)
Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)
-History:Built in 1897 following a traditional proscenium arch design, the Lyceum is the only surviving theatre outside of London designed by the famous theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague and the last example of an Edwardian auditorium in Sheffield...
and the Theatre Royal, Bath
Theatre Royal, Bath
The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, is over 200 years old. It is one of the more important theatres in the United Kingdom outside London, with capacity for an audience of around 900....
.
Early life
Stephen was born in Welwyn Garden CityWelwyn Garden City
-Economy:Ever since its inception as garden city, Welwyn Garden City has attracted a strong commercial base with several designated employment areas. Among the companies trading in the town are:*Air Link Systems*Baxter*British Lead Mills*Carl Zeiss...
. His father, Gerald, was editor of the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
, and his first contact with the theatre was through his mother, the actress Vera Lindsay
Vera Lindsay
The British Shakespearean actress Vera Lindsay performed at The Old Vic during the 1930s alongside Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and under the direction of Michel Saint-Denis....
. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Manchester University. In 1973, he married Jacqueline Lindsay with whom he had one son and one daughter.
Professional career
Stephen Barry trained as a director with Bernard MilesBernard Miles
Bernard James Miles, Baron Miles, CBE was an English character actor, writer and director. He opened the Mermaid Theatre in London in 1959, the first new theatre opened in the City of London since the 17th century....
at the Mermaid Theatre
Mermaid Theatre
The Mermaid Theatre was a theatre at Puddle Dock, in Blackfriars, in the City of London and the first built there since the time of Shakespeare...
, served as assistant director at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey presents in-house productions which often tour and transfer to London's West End. Other performances include opera, ballet and pantomime. Named after the actress Yvonne Arnaud, the company has two performance venues, a main theatre and the smaller Mill...
, Guildford, and was a staff director at the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
under Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
.
In 1974, aged 29, he took up his first artistic directorship for a theatre in Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
. Four years later, he accepted the challenge of rejuvenating The National Theatre at the Playhouse
The Playhouse Theatre (Perth)
The Playhouse Theatre in central Perth, Western Australia was purpose-built for live theatre in the 1950s and remained one of the city's principle venues for performing arts for over half a century until replaced by the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in January 2011.-History:The theatre...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. In that role he created many very successful presentations including a season of Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Premiered at the Morosco Theatre in February 1949, the original production ran for a total of 742 performances.-Plot :Willy Loman...
with Warren Mitchell
Warren Mitchell
Warren Mitchell is an English actor who rose to initial prominence in the role of bigoted cockney Alf Garnett in the BBC television sitcom Till Death Us Do Part , and its sequels Till Death... and In Sickness and in Health , all of which were written by Johnny Speight...
, and sellout performances of Pam Gems
Pam Gems
Pam Gems was a British playwright. The author of numerous original plays, as well as of adaptations of works by major European playwrights of the past, Gems is best known for the 1978 musical play Piaf.-Personal life:...
's musical Piaf
Piaf (play)
Piaf is a play by Pam Gems that focuses on the life and career of French chanteuse Edith Piaf. The biographical drama with music portrays the singer in a most unflattering light...
with Judy Davis
Judy Davis
Judy Davis is an Australian actress best known for her roles in Husbands and Wives, Barton Fink, A Passage to India and in the TV miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows....
. He also commissioned and produced a controversial Dorothy Hewett
Dorothy Hewett
Dorothy Coade Hewett was an Australian feminist poet, novelist, librettist and playwright. She was also a member of the Communist Party of Australia, though she clashed on many occasions with the party's leadership.-Early life:Hewett was born in Perth and was brought up on a sheep and wheat farm...
play, The Man from Muckinupin for Western Australia's 150th anniversary (WAY '79).
In 1982, he returned to the UK to serve as artistic director with the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham until 1986, and then the Theatre Royal, Bath
Theatre Royal, Bath
The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, is over 200 years old. It is one of the more important theatres in the United Kingdom outside London, with capacity for an audience of around 900....
.