Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, CBE (born 14 January 1940) is an English theatre, film and television director. Nunn has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed musicals and dramas for the stage, as well as opera. His well-known musicals are Cats (1981) and Les Misérables (1985). His dramas include Nicholas Nickleby and Macbeth. He has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical, winning the Tony Award (Musical) for Les Misérables and the Olivier Award for Summerfolk / The Merchant of Venice / Troilus and Cressida; and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

Early years[link]

Nunn was born in Ipswich, England, to Robert Alexander Nunn, a cabinetmaker, and Dorothy May Piper.^[1] He was educated at Northgate Grammar School, Ipswich and Downing College, Cambridge, where he began his stage career. He won a Director's Scholarship, becoming a trainee director at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry in 1962.^[2]

Career[link]

In 1964 Nunn joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and in 1968 he was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a position he held until 1986.^[2] He became Artistic Director of the Royal National Theatre in September 1997.^[2]

His first wife, Janet Suzman, appeared in many of his productions, such as the 1974 televised version of his Antony and Cleopatra.^[3] Nunn became a leading figure in theatrical circles, and was responsible for many ground-breaking productions, such as the RSC's version of Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, co-directed with John Caird,^[2] and a 1976 musical adaptation of the Shakespeare play The Comedy of Errors.^[4][5]

A very successful director of musicals, in the non-subsidised sector, Nunn directed the musical Cats (1981),^[6] formerly the longest running musical in Broadway's history, and the first English production of Les Misérables in 1985, also with John Caird, which has been running continuously in London since opening.^[2][7] Nunn also directed the little-known 1986 Webber–Rice musical Cricket, at Windsor Castle.^[8] Besides Cats and Les Misérables Nunn's other musical credits include Starlight Express^[9] and Sunset Boulevard.^[10] Later London credits include My Fair Lady,^[11] South Pacific (at the Royal National Theatre),^[12]The Woman In White,^[13]Othello and Acorn Antiques The Musical (2005),^[14]The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Rock 'n' Roll^[15] and Porgy and Bess in 2006 at the Savoy Theatre (an abridged version with dialogue instead of recitatives, unlike Nunn's first production of the opera).^[16]

Nunn directed the RSC production of Macbeth starring Ian McKellen in the title role and Dame Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth in 1976.^[17] Nunn staged the action of the drama with not only the paying audience, but also the audience of all of the actors in the production not in the ongoing scene—they sat on wooden crates just beyond the main playing space.^[18]

He directed his wife's (Imogen Stubbs), play We Happy Few in 2004.^[19] Stubbs often appears in his productions, including the 1996 Twelfth Night film. Nunn directed a modern production of Shakespeare's Hamlet in 2004, which starred Ben Whishaw in the title role, and Imogen Stubbs as Gertrude, and was staged at the Old Vic Theatre in London.^[20]

In 2007 he directed the RSC productions of King Lear and The Seagull, which played at Stratford before embarking on a world tour (including the Brooklyn Academy of Music) and then playing at the New London Theatre from November 2007. The two plays both starred Ian McKellen, Romola Garai, Frances Barber, Sylvester McCoy, and William Gaunt.^[21] Nunn's television production of King Lear was screened on Boxing Day, 2008 with McKellen in the title role.^[22]

In 2008 he returned to The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry (the theatre where he started his career) to direct Joanna Murray-Smith's adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film Scenes from a Marriage starring Imogen Stubbs and Iain Glen.^[23] His musical adaptation of Gone With The Wind opened at the New London Theatre in April 2008 and, after poor reviews, closed on 14 June 2008 after 79 performances.^[24] In December 2008, he directed a revival of A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory, which transferred to the West End at the Garrick Theatre in 2009.^[25] The production transferred to Broadway, opening in November 2009, with Catherine Zeta-Jones as Desiree Armfeldt and Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt. Other members of the original London cast also transferred with the production. The production closed in January 2011 after 425 performances.^[26]

In 2010, Nunn directed a revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Aspects of Love from July to September 2010 at the Menier Chocolate Factory^[27] and the play Birdsong, which opened in September 2010 at the Comedy Theatre, based on the Sebastian Faulks novel of the same title.^[28]

Nunn marked his debut as Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, with a revival of Flare Path (as part of the playwright, Terrence Rattigan's, centenary year celebrations). The production, starring Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith, opened in March 2011 and closed in June 2011,^[29] and was followed by productions of Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, (June - August 2011)^[30] and The Tempest, starring Ralph Fiennes (September - October 2011).^[31] His final production at the Haymarket, The Lion in Winter (November 2011 - January 2012), stars Joanna Lumley and Robert Lindsay.^[32]

Film and opera[link]

Nunn has directed opera at Glyndebourne. He re-staged his highly successful Gyndebourne production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess for television in 1993,^[2] and was highly praised.^[33][34]

He has directed for film, including Lady Jane (1986), Hedda, an adaptation of Hedda Gabler, and a 1996 film version of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.^[35]

Personal life[link]

Nunn has been married three times. He was married to actress Janet Suzman from October 17, 1969 until their divorce in 1986. They have one child, Joshua. The Times reported in April 1986: "Janet Suzman, aged 47, the actress, was granted a divorce in London yesterday from Trevor Nunn, aged 46, the theatre director ... They have a son, Joshua, aged five."^[36][37] He has another two children, Laurie and Amy, with his second wife, Sharon Lee-Hill; they divorced in 1991. According to The Times, "Trevor Nunn, the theatre director, was divorced yesterday by his wife Sharon Lee Hill."^[38][39][40]

In 1994, Nunn married actress Imogen Stubbs with whom he has two children, Ellie and Jesse. The Press Association reported on September 18, 1994: "Director Trevor Nunn and actress Imogen Stubbs, who wed in secret at a London register office on Saturday, had their marriage blessed today in a low-key service at a village church."^[41] In April 2011 Stubbs announced that she and Sir Trevor were to separate.^[40]

He was knighted in 2002.^[39]

In 1998 Nunn was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to the Labour Party (UK).^[42]

Credits[link]

Broadway[link]

Source: Internet Broadway Database Listing^[43]

• A Little Night Music - 13 December 2009 - 20 June 2010, re-opened 13 July 2010
• Rock 'n' Roll - 4 November 2007 – 9 March 2008
• Les Misérables (revival) - 9 November 2006 – 6 January 2008
• The Woman in White - 17 November 2005 – 19 February 2006
• Chess - 22 September 2003 (Benefit Concert)
• Vincent in Brixton (as original producer) - 6 March 2003 – 4 May 2003
• Oklahoma! - 21 March 2002 – 23 February 2003
• Noises Off (as original producer) - 1 November 2001 – 1 September 2002
• Rose Written by Martin Sherman (as original producer) - 12 April 2000 – 20 May 2000
• Copenhagen (as original producer) - 11 April 2000 – 21 January 2001
• Amy's View (as original producer) - 15 April 1999 – 18 July 1999
• Closer (as original producer) - 25 March 1999 – 22 August 1999
• Not About Nightingales - 25 February 1999 – 13 June 1999
• Arcadia - 30 March 1995 – 27 August 1995
• Sunset Boulevard - 17 November 1994 – 22 March 1997
• Aspects of Love - 8 April 1990 – 2 March 1991
• Chess - 28 April 1988 – 25 June 1988
• Starlight Express - 15 March 1987 – 8 January 1989
• Les Misérables - 12 March 1987 – 18 May 2003
• The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby - 24 August 1986 – 12 October 1986
• André DeShield's Harlem Nocturne (Featuring songs with lyrics by Trevor Nunn) - 18 November 1984 – 30 December 1984
• Cyrano de Bergerac (as original producer) - 16 October 1984 – 19 January 1985
• Much Ado About Nothing (as original producer) - 14 October 1984 – 16 January 1985
• All's Well that Ends Well - 13 April 1983 – 15 May 1983
• Good (as original producer) - 13 October 1982 – 30 January 1983
• Cats - 7 October 1982 – 10 September 2000
• The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby - 4 October 1981 – 3 January 1982
• Piaf - 5 February 1981 – 28 June 1981
• London Assurance (as original producer) - 5 December 1974 – 12 January 1975
• Sherlock Holmes (as original producer) -12 November 1974 – 4 January 1976
• Old Times (as original producer) - 16 November 1971 – 26 February 1972
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (as original producer) - 20 January 1971 – 13 March 1971

West End[link]

Source: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust^[44]

• The Lion In Winter - 2011
• Flare Path - 2011
• Birdsong - 2010
• Aspects of Love - 2010
• A Little Night Music - 2009
• Inherit The Wind - 2009
• Gone with the Wind - 2008
• King Lear - 2007
• The Seagull - 2007
• Porgy and Bess - 2006
• Acorn Antiques: The Musical! - 2005
• The Woman in White - 2004
• Anything Goes - 2002
• South Pacific - 2001
• My Fair Lady - 2001
• Oklahoma! - 1998
• Sunset Boulevard -1993
• The Baker's Wife - 1989
• Aspects of Love - 1989
• Chess - 1986
• Les Misérables - 1985
• Starlight Express - 1984
• Cats - 1981

Film[link]

Source: Contemporary British and Irish film Directors^[35]

• Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (director and adaptation) (1996)
• Lady Jane (director) (1986)
• Hedda (director and adaptation) (1976)

Television[link]

• King Lear (2008 TV Movie)
• The Merchant of Venice (2001 TV movie)
• Oklahoma! (1999 TV movie)
• Porgy and Bess (1993 TV movie)
• Othello (1990 TV movie)
• The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982 TV mini-series)
• The Three Sisters (1981 TV movie)
• BBC2 Playhouse (TV series) - (1 episode, 1979)
• Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1979)

Awards and nominations[link]

Sources: Internet Broadway Database Listing^[43] Tony Awards Database (broadwayworld.com)^[45] Drama Desk History^[46] Olivier Awards, Past Nominees and Winners^[47]

• 2002 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Oklahoma! [nominee]
• 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical – Oklahoma! [nominee]
• 2002 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement
• 2001 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - The Cherry Orchard [nominee]
• 2000 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director- Summerfolk / The Merchant of Venice / Troilus and Cressida [winner]
• 1999 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - Oklahoma! [nominee]
• 1999 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – Not About Nightingales [nominee]
• 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play – Not About Nightingales [winner]
• 1995 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical– Sunset Boulevard [nominee]
• 1995 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director- The Merchant of Venice / Summerfolk [winner]
• 1995 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical– Sunset Boulevard [nominee]
• 1994 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - Arcadia [nominee]
• 1990 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical– Aspects of Love [nominee]
• 1987 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical– Les Misérables [winner]
• 1989 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - Othello [nominee]
• 1987 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical– Starlight Express [nominee]
• 1983 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical– Cats [winner]
• 1983 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play– All's Well that Ends Well [nominee]
• 1983 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play– All's Well that Ends Well [winner]
• 1982 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play– The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby [winner]
• 1981 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - Cats [nominee]
• 1980 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby [winner]
• 1979 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - Once in a Lifetime [nominee]
• 1977 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director - Macbeth [nominee]
• 1975 Drama Desk Award Unique Theatrical Experience – London Assurance [winner]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Trowbridge, Simon: The Company: A Biographical Dictionary of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Editions Albert Creed (2010) ISBN 978-0-9559830-2-3

External links[link]

• Trevor Nunn at the Internet Broadway Database
• Trevor Nunn at the Internet Movie Database
• The Company: A Biographical Dictionary of the RSC: Online database
• Scenes from a Marriage preview
• Michael Jackson's Peter Pan obsession - by Trevor Nunn 2009