Featuring Dan Crawford, Alan Rickman, Tom Stoppard, Joanna Lumley, Rupert Graves, Antony Sher, Steven Berkoff, Janie Dee and many more.įiggis directed his first feature film when he was asked to collaborate with the acclaimed photographer Sir Simon Marsden on a documentary feature project called The Twilight Hour in 2003. Screened on Sky Arts and Channel Four, UK. This film chronicles the journey of those years, using new material and interviews from 2020 alongside excerpts from an earlier film: A Maverick In London (2006) Directed by Jason Figgis and Stephanie Sinclaire, Produced by Stephanie Sinclaire and Stash Kirkbride, Presented by Stash Kirkbride. It was an event that broke Dan’s heart.Īfter Dan's death in 2006, Stephanie battled on and managed to raise the funds to buy the building form the brewery, safeguarding the theatre's future in perpetuity before moving to be with her daughter in New Zealand, leaving behind a lifetime of passionate commitment, hard work - and the greatest love story of her life. Without it - we were forced to become mostly a theatre for hire.
It was a tiny grant compared to those given to other off West End theatres, but it allowed us to be a full time producing house with an artistic vision. Despite a legacy of incredible work In the early 90s, the King’s Head’s annual grant was taken away, despite a tremendous outpouring of support from the public and theatrical community. apassionate advocate for the King's Head, rallying the theatrical community to its aid dozens of times when the wolf was at the door. Dan and Stephanie married, and Stephanie went on to work alongside Dan. In 1984, Stephanie arrived with a little girl in her arms. The constant stream of work that the King’s Head produced provided essential fodder for the West End - with on average one show transferring every year. But the second: John Fowle’s The Collector, was a hit! The King’s Head went on to enjoy many successes - championing a richly eclectic programme of new writing, musicals and classic revivals, and launching the careers of dozens of household names. The first play - an absurdist comedy - didn’t do very well. Within a few months, the King's Head Theatre was born!It was 1970, The King’s Head was the first pub theatre in England since pre-Shakespearean times.
The brewery said “Well, nobody else wants it - may as well give it to you on a punt”. And so, with a small loan from his Mother, Edna, he applied to buy the lease. But it had a back room (used for cock fighting in the 17th century and illegally for prize fighting in the 20th). He walked into The King’s Head, which hadn’t been decorated since the 1930s and was very rundown and entirely deserted. The Story of The King's Head: The First Pub Theatre in Modern England.ĭan Crawford emigrated from Hackensack New Jersey to England in 1969. We owe a great deal to Stephanie, and will progress forward with her memory at the heart of our work and practises.October Eleven Pictures in association with Figgis West and Sea Star Creations presents: Since 2012, Stephanie had been living in New Zealand where she moved to be close to her daughter and grandchildren.Īs a venue, we cannot look ahead to our future without remembering our defining past. She worked tirelessly to secure the theatre's future before passing the torch to Adam Spreadbury-Maher. After Dan's death in 2005, Stephanie was appointed Artistic Director of the King's Head Theatre. She produced and co-directed (with Jason Figgis) the feature-length documentary, A Maverick in London which detailed the story of Dan and the King’s Head Theatre and aired on Channel Four in 2005. Stephanie and Dan were co-recipients, on behalf of the King’s Head Theatre, of the Queen’s Jubilee Award for contribution to the arts and pursuit of excellence in the field of directing in 2002. From 1990, alongside her husband and founder of the King’s Head Theatre, Dan Crawford, she ran the theatre and helped to launch the career of many talented artists, establishing the theatre’s reputation as a training ground and springboard for emerging creatives. Stephanie is an integral part of our great history and legacy. It is with deep regret that we share the incredibly sad news of Stephanie Sinclaire Lightsmith’s passing.