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
Neil McPherson (artistic director) at the Finborough Theatre from 15 May to 9 July 2016, and transferred to Trafalgar Studios, London, in November 2016 where it was nominated for an Olivier Award. It also went on tour to Aberdeen and Glasgow in 2018. "I Wish To Die Singing – Voices From The Armenian Genocide" and "It Is Easy To Be Dead" are both published by Oberon Books. Neil McPherson (artistic director) Neil McPherson (born London, 7 October 1969) is a Artistic Director and playwright. He was Artistic Director of the New End Theatre, Hampstead, from 1996–1997, and has been the Artistic Director of the