The Stage 100: 41-60

41. Mark Goucher (producer)

Jeeves and Wooster managed an extended West End run, and has proved a hit on the road on its UK tour. Goucher has also secured a West End transfer for Taken at Midnight, which began life at Chichester last year – the same starting point for a new production of The King’s Speech, opening at CFT in February ahead of a national tour. Other shows include Slava’s Snowshow and a planned tour of Oh What a Lovely War.

42. Michael McCabe (producer)

Executive producer of Wicked, McCabe has been the man on the ground in the UK for the show’s US producers David Stone and Marc Platt. As well as being a huge hit in the West End, now in its 9th year at the Apollo Victoria, Wicked is now over a year into its first UK tour, where business is flying. McCabe also runs marketing firm Joe Public with Luke Shires.

43. Alex Beard/Antonio Pappano/Kevin O’Hare (Royal Opera House)

The trio leading the Royal Opera House has continued to produce world-class opera and ballet, while strengthening the ROH’s position in the cinema screening market, introducing encore screenings alongside its popular live programme. It was good to see ROH extending beyond its Covent Garden HQ to present L’Ormindo at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

44. David Hare (playwright)

David Hare’s status as one of the UK’s greatest living playwrights was further cemented this year, with high-profile revivals of both Skylight and The Vertical Hour staged in London. In addition, his new play Behind the Beautiful Forevers has proved a hit at the National, and sparked much debate about the diversity of theatre audiences.

 

45. David Ian (producer)

As Ian nears a decade of solo producing, he has proved himself a mainstay of the West End as well as the touring circuit, with Cats returning to the Palladium and Jersey Boys and The Bodyguard both out on tour. On the international stage, he is responsible for the Australian production of Grease and a Chinese tour of The Sound of Music.

46. John Berry (English National Opera)

Despite an uncertain few years financially, ENO announced it was branching out into musical theatre, via a partnership with commercial producers Michael Grade and Michael Linnit. The first show under the scheme is the Emma Thompson/Bryn Terfel Sweeney Todd, which comes to the Coliseum by way of New York in March. Artistically, ENO is in fine fettle, but it could do with a boost at the box office.

47. Adrian Vinken/Simon Stokes (Theatre Royal Plymouth)

Top-class producing and receiving house Plymouth is a popular starting point for musicals and more experimental work. James Graham’s The Angry Brigade – a co-production with Paines Plough – has finished a regional tour ahead of a run at the Bush; Grand Guignol enjoyed success at Southwark Playhouse. This work looks set to continue, after TRP won the inaugural Clothworkers’ award of £150,000.

48. Purni Morell (Unicorn Theatre)

Under Morell’s leadership, the Unicorn has gone from strength to strength, and in the last year it has featured work from Chris Thorpe, Wayne McGregor and Sally Cookson. The Unicorn also took home the 2014 Empty Space Peter Brook award, beating theatres such as the Orange Tree and Park in the process. Thanks to Morell’s adventurous programming, it is no longer pigeonholed as a children’s theatre.

 

49. Brian Conley (actor)

Barnum was given a new lease of life in 2014, thanks in no small part to the talents and saleability of Brian Conley, recently dubbed Britain’s best-loved entertainer. He’s also the undisputed king of panto, having played Buttons in more productions than we can remember. A big draw at the box office – especially out on the road.

50. Tom Morris (Bristol Old Vic)

Following a multimillion pound refurbishment of its auditorium, Bristol Old Vic is continuing with the redevelopment of its front of house, which aims to be completed in 2016. On the artistic front, Morris has maintained BOV’s position as a leading regional producer, with highlights including a co-production of Juno and the Paycock with the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.

 

51. Sarah Frankcom (Manchester Royal Exchange)

Following Greg Hersov’s departure from Manchester’s Royal Exchange in January this year, Frankcom became the theatre’s first sole artistic director in its history. Her innovative and bold choices are exemplified in the theatre’s production of Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake, one of the undoubted highlights of last year.

 

52. Paul Kerryson (Leicester Curve)

Kerryson’s final year as artistic director of Leicester Curve has been nothing short of a victory lap. Productions including The Sound of Music and Abigail’s Party have proved popular, and an impressive line-up of shows in the works – including a UK tour of Hairspray and an Adrian Mole musical – means Kerryson’s influence will be felt long after he leaves.

53. Rachel Tackley (English Touring Theatre)

An ambitious staging of all nine of Noel Coward’s one-act plays, dubbed Tonight at 8:30, was the critical highlight of a great year for English Touring Theatre – overseen by director Tackley. Also serving as the president of UK Theatre, she continues to be one of the industry’s most influential figures.

54= Pippa Ailion (casting director)

Ask any critic to name 2014’s best musicals, and three names will crop up more than any other: the West End debut of Memphis, Here Lies Love at the National Theatre’s Dorfman and Chichester Festival Theatre’s Gypsy. What do these eclectic shows have in common? Ailion cast them all.

 

54= David Grindrod (casting director)

Another year, another series of stellar castings from one of the West End’s premier casting directors. As well as finding the talent behind Matilda the Musical and Once, Grindrod recently cast Made in Dagenham, one of 2014’s most anticipated musical openings.

 

56. Indhu Rubasingham (Tricycle Theatre)

Last year started as well as it could for Rubasingham, with news that the show she directed at the Tricycle Theatre, Handbagged, would transfer to the West End. She later courted controversy during a bust-up with the UK Jewish Film Festival over funding channelled through the Israeli embassy.

 

57. Ian Rickson (director)

In addition to directing Kristin Scott Thomas in the Old Vic’s wounding, hypnotic Electra, Rickson also found time last year to take his 2012 staging of Jez Butterworth’s The River to Broadway. Starring Hugh Jackman, it was much praised on its opening and, after extending its run, has now recouped.

 

58. Judy Craymer (producer)

Mamma Mia! continues to do big business in the West End and globally, with more than 54 million people having seen the show. Producer Craymer brought the show to Blackpool in 2014 – the show’s only UK date on its international tour. Next year, it will play Liverpool as well as London. Meanwhile, the failure of Spice Girls musical Viva Forever! recedes into distant memory.

59. Barbara Broccoli (producer)

With her production of Irish folk musical Once running in the West End throughout the entirety of 2014, James Bond producer Broccoli’s place in our countdown was assured. Once will close in March, though a series of star castings – culminating with Ronan Keating’s acclaimed performance – has ensured it goes out on a high.

60. Scott Rudin (producer)

It’s been a busy year for Rudin, who is best known for his work in TV, film and on Broadway, but is fast building a presence in the UK. The producer behind the runaway success of The Book of Mormon on both sides of the pond, he also co-produced the acclaimed West End revival of Skylight, starring Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy. The play broke all box office records at Wyndham’s Theatre, where it recouped after only five weeks.

The Stage 100: 1-5
The Stage 100: 6-10
The Stage 100: 11-20
The Stage 100: 21-40
The Stage 100: 41-60
The Stage 100: 61-80
The Stage 100: 81-100