Kenneth Tynan theatre critic until mid-1963 when he joined the National Theatre. In 1963, Laurence Olivier became the British National Theatre Company's first artistic director. Tynan had been highly dismissive of Olivier's achievements as artistic director of the Chichester Festival Theatre, which had opened in 1962, but he recommended himself for the role of literary manager. Olivier was initially outraged by Tynan's presumption but Olivier's wife, Joan Plowright, convinced him that Tynan would be an asset at the National Theatre Company, then based at the Old Vic theatre. When he became the National Theatre's literary manager, Tynan ceased to be the theatre
David Farr (theatre director) David Farr (theatre director) David Farr (born 29 October 1969) is a British writer, theatrical director and Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Farr was brought up in Surrey and educated in Guildford and the University of Cambridge (English Literature double first). Farr began directing theatre at University and won the "Guardian Student Drama Award" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1991 with "Slight Possession" starring Rachel Weisz. His professional directorial debut came at The Gate Theatre, Notting Hill in 1995 (age25) under Stephen Daldry. He was also Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic from 2002 to 2005 and