Braham Murray

Braham Sydney Murray, OBE (12 February 1943 – 25 July 2018) was an English theatre director. In 1976, he was one of five founding Artistic Directors of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, and the longest-serving (he retired in 2012).

Early years

Braham Goldstein was born in north London, the son of Samuel Goldstein. His name became Murray when his mother remarried and Philip Murray became his stepfather. He attended Clifton College, Bristol, at the age of 13 where he acted in ''The Bespoke Overcoat'' by Wolf Mankowitz (adapted from a Gogol short story) and directed Ibsen's ''Brand'' in school productions. He read English at University College, Oxford, from 1961.

He spent most of his time at university directing, and eventually left Oxford in 1964 without taking his degree. His student productions included '' The Connection'' by Jack Gelber, '' The Hostage'' by Brendan Behan, '' A Man for All Seasons'' by Robert Bolt and ''Rhinoceros'' by Eugène Ionesco. Whilst still at Oxford he co-wrote and directed ''Hang Down Your Head and Die'' for the ETC (experimental theatre club) at the Oxford Playhouse. It opened on 12 February 1964, later transferring to the Comedy Theatre in London and later still to Broadway.The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976 – 1998

Foundation of the Royal Exchange Theatre

After leaving Oxford he directed ''The Winter's Tale'' at Birmingham Rep with Prunella Scales. Later, in September 1965, he was appointed artistic director of Century Theatre which became the resident company at the University Theatre in Manchester as well as touring the north-west of England using a mobile theatre. In 1967, Michael Elliott and Caspar Wrede agreed to direct productions at the Century Theatre. The following year the three men set up the 69 Theatre Company at the University, where they produced plays until 1972 when the group started to look for a permanent theatre in Manchester.

They were joined by Richard Negri – who was to design the new theatre – and actor James Maxwell, and in 1973 a temporary theatre, The Tent, was installed in the disused Royal Exchange in Manchester. The success of The Tent led to the decision being taken to build the new theatre inside the Royal Exchange. Using the Theatre-in-the-round principles, it became the largest such theatre in the UK. The opening production in September 1976 was ''The Rivals'', directed by Murray. He moved permanently to Manchester at this time, with his wife, designer Joanna Bryant, and their family. She had already designed many of his productions, and would continue to do so at the Royal Exchange.

He continued to be an artistic director of the Company and directed 65 productions. Murray received the OBE in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to drama. In June 2011, he announced that he was to step down as artistic director in 2012.

Productions

His productions include: -

Royal Exchange

* ''The Rivals'' by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The opening production, with Tom Courtenay, Christopher Gable, James Maxwell and Patricia Routledge (1976)
* '' What the Butler Saw'' by Joe Orton, with Lee Montague, Lindsay Duncan and Michael Feast (1977)
* ''Leaping Ginger'' by Trevor Peacock. World premiere with Christopher Neil (1977)
* '' The Dybbuk'' by S Anski (1978)
* ''The Winter's Tale'' with James Maxwell and Helen Ryan (1978)
* ''The Three Musketeers'' by Braham Murray and Derek Griffiths. World premiere with Robert Lindsay, Derek Griffiths, Terry Wood and Trevor Peacock (1979)
* ''The Lower Depths'' by Maxim Gorky, with Robert Lindsay (1980)
* ''Blood, Black and Gold'' by Gerard McLarnon. World premiere with John Watts and Dilys Hamlett (1980)
* ''Have You Anything to Declare'' by Maurice Hennequin. British premiere with Brian Cox (1980)
* ''Waiting for Godot'' by Samuel Beckett, with Max Wall and Trevor Peacock (1980)
* ''Measure for Measure'' with Alfred Burke and Claire Higgins (1981)
* '' The Beaux' Stratagem'' by George Farquhar, with Robert Lindsay and Christopher Neame (1982)
* '' The Nerd'' by Larry Shue. European premiere with Derek Griffiths and David Horovitch (1982)
* ''Andy Capp'' by Alan Price and James Maxwell. World premiere with Tom Courtenay, Alan Price and Michael Mueller (1982)
* ''The Government Inspector'' by Nikolai Gogol, with Philip Madoc and Derek Griffiths (1983)
* ''Hamlet'' with Robert Lindsay (1983)
* '' Long Day's Journey into Night'' by Eugene O'Neill, with James Maxwell and Dilys Hamlett (1985)
* ''Who's a Lucky Boy'' by Alan Price, with Michael Mueller and Adrian Dunbar (1985)
* '' Riddley Walker'' by Russell Hoban. World Premiere with David Threlfall (1986)
* ''Court in the Act'' by Maurice Hennequin. British premiere with Michael Denison, Lee Montague and Gabrielle Drake (1986)
* '' The Merchant of Venice'' with Harriet Walter (1987)
* ''The Bluebird of Unhappiness'' by Woody Allen, with Derek Griffiths, Trevor Peacock, Haydn Gwynne and John Bennett (1987)
* ''The Cabinet Minister'' by Arthur Wing Pinero, with Frank Thornton, Susan Fleetwood, Haydn Gwynne and David Morrissey (1988)
* ''Twelfth Night'' with Tim McInnerny, Saskia Reeves and Derek Griffiths (1988)
* ''Macbeth'' with David Threlfall and Frances Barber (1988)
* ''In the Talking Dark'' by Dolores Walshe, with Terence Wilton and Frances Tomelty (1989)
* ''The Tempest'' with David Horovitch and Emily Raymond (1990)
* ''Your Home in the West'' by Rod Wooden, with David Threlfall, Lorraine Ashbourne and Andy Serkis (1991)
* ''Doctor Heart'' by Peter Muller, with Andy Serkis, Frances Tomelty and Lorraine Ashbourne (1991)
* ''The Miser'' by Moliere, with Tom Courtenay (1992)
* ''The Recruiting Officer'' by George Farquhar, with Derek Griffiths, Greg Wise and Haydn Gwynne (1992)
* '' The Odd Women'' by Michael Meyer, with Sean Arnold and Lorraine Ashbourne (1992)
* '' The Brothers Karamazov'' adapted by Gerard McLarnon. World premiere with Philip Madoc, Lorraine Ashbourne and Michael Mueller (1993)
* ''Maybe'' by Mikhail Shatrov. World premiere with Vanessa Redgrave and John Bennett (1993)
* ''Smoke'' by Rod Wooden. World premiere with Rade Serbedzija (1993)
* ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' adapted by James Maxwell and Jonathon Hackett. World premiere with David Threlfall and Colin Prockter (1994)
* '' Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love'' by Brad Fraser, with Andy Serkis (1995)
* ''Private Lives'' by Noël Coward, with Sian Thomas and Pip Donaghy (1995)
* '' Miss Julie'' by August Strindberg, with Amanda Donohoe, Patrick O'Kane and Marie Francis (1995)
* ''The Rivals'' by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, with Maureen Lipman and Tony Britton (1996)
* '' Lady Windermere's Fan'' by Oscar Wilde, with Gabrielle Drake (1997)
* '' The Candidate'' by Paul Godfrey, with James Saxton and Colin Prockter (1997)
* ''Peer Gynt'' by Henrik Ibsen, with David Threlfall (1999)
* ''Bats'' by Braham Murray and Emil Wolk, with Ben Keaton and Emil Wolk (2000)
* ''Snapshots'' by Fiona Padfield. World premiere directed by Braham Murray and Sarah Frankcom with Terence Wilton (2000)
* ''The Ghost Train Tattoo'' by Simon Robson. World premiere directed by Braham Murray and Sarah Frankcom with Terence Wilton, Joanna David and Gabrielle Drake (2000)
* ''Ghosts'' by Henrik Ibsen, with Frances Tomelty and David Horovitch (2000)
* ''Snake in Fridge'' by Brad Fraser ( MEN Award), with Adam Sims (MEN Award) and Kellie Bright (2000)
* '' Loot'' by Joe Orton, with Derek Griffiths, Gabrielle Drake and Colin Prockter (2001)
* '' Hedda Gabler'' by Henrik Ibsen, with Amanda Donohoe (MEN Award), Terence Wilton and Simon Robson (2001)
* '' Time and the Conways'' by J. B. Priestley, with Gabrielle Drake, Rachel Pickup (MEN Award) and Naomi Frederick (MEN Award) (2002)
* ''Othello'' with Paterson Joseph, Emma Darwall Smith and Andy Serkis (2002)
* ''Cold Meat Party'' by Brad Fraser. World premiere with Emma Lowndes, Kellie Bright, Helen Atkinson Wood, Geraldine Alexander and Joseph Millson (2003)
* '' Hobson's Choice'' by Harold Brighouse, with Trevor Peacock, John Thomson and Joanna Riding (2003)
* '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' by John Dighton, with Janet Henfrey, Simon Robson, Joanna Riding and Philip Madoc (2003)
* ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' by Oscar Wilde, with Gabrielle Drake, Jamie de Courcey, Ian Shaw, Laura Rees and Joanna David (2004)
* ''Antony and Cleopatra'' with Josette Bushell-Mingo, Tom Mannion and Terence Wilton (2005)
* '' What Every Woman Knows'' by J. M. Barrie, with Jenny Ogilvie, Gabrielle Drake and Mark Arends (2006)
* '' She Stoops to Conquer'' by Oliver Goldsmith, with Desmond Barrit, Polly Hemingway, Milo Twomey and Jack Tarlton (2006)
* '' The Triumph of Love'' by Marivaux, with Brigit Forsyth, Charlie Anson and Rae Hendrie (2007)
* '' An Ideal Husband'' by Oscar Wilde, with Joanna Riding, Simon Robson and Milo Twomey (2008)
* '' The Glass Menagerie'' by Tennessee Williams, with Brenda Blethyn ( TMA Award) (2008)
* ''True Love Lies'' by Brad Fraser, with Johnny Phillips, John Kirk and Teresa Banham (2009)
* '' Haunted'' by Edna O'Brien, with Brenda Blethyn, Beth Cooke and Niall Buggy (2009)
* '' Charley's Aunt'' by Brandon Thomas, with Oliver Gomm and Malcom Rennie (2010)
* ''The Bacchae'' by Euripides (2010)
* ''5@50'' by Brad Fraser, with Teresa Banham, Barbara Barnes, Candida Gubbins, Ingrid Lacey and Jan Ravens(2011)
* ''Wonderful Town'' by Leonard Bernstein. Produced in partnership with the Hallé Orchestra and The Lowry with Connie Fisher, Lucy van Gasse, Michael Xavier, Nic Greenshields and Tiffany Graves. The orchestra was conducted by Mark Elder. The production was the last one directed by Murray as artistic director of the Royal Exchange (2012).

Other theatres

* ''Hang Down Your Head and Die'' at the Oxford Playhouse (1964)
* ''The Winter's Tale'' at the Birmingham Rep, with Prunella Scales (1965)
* '' Loot'' by Joe Orton, at the Century Theatre, Manchester, with Julian Chagrin (1966)
* ''Long Day's Journey into Night'' by Eugene O'Neill, at the Century Theatre, Manchester, with Dilys Hamlett, Derek Fowlds and Helen Mirren (1965)
* ''The Ortolan'' by Michael Meyer, at the Century Theatre, Manchester, with Dilys Hamlett, Derek Fowlds and Helen Mirren (1965)
* '' Charley's Aunt'' by Brandon Thomas, at the Century Theatre, Manchester, with Tom Courtenay and Helen Mirren (1967)
* ''The Merchant of Venice'' at the Century Theatre, Manchester, with Dilys Hamlett, James Maxwell and Helen Mirren (1967)
* ''She Stoops to Conquer'' by Oliver Goldsmith, at the 69 Theatre Company, with Tom Courtenay, Trevor Peacock and Juliet Mills (1969)
* ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' at the 69 Theatre Company, Manchester, with Brian Cox and Zoë Wanamaker (1970)
* '' Catch My Soul'' by Jack Good, at the 69 Theatre Company, Manchester, with Jack Good, P. J. Proby and P. P. Arnold (1971)
* ''Catch My Soul'' by Jack Good, for 69 Theatre at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, with Lance LeGault, Lon Satton and Sylvia McNeill (1971)
* ''Mary Rose'' by J. M. Barrie, at the 69 Theatre Company, Manchester, with Mia Farrow (1972)
* '' Time and the Conways'' by J. B. Priestley, at the 69 Theatre Company, Manchester, with Dilys Hamlett and Christopher Gable (1973)
* ''The Good Companions'' by Ronald Harwood and André Previn, at Her Majesty's Theatre, with Judi Dench, John Mills and Christopher Gable (1974)
* '' The Black Mikado'', adapted from ''The Mikado'' by Gilbert and Sullivan, at the Cambridge Theatre, with Michael Denison, Patti Boulaye, Derek Griffiths and Floella Benjamin (1975)
*''Shoenberg in Hollywood'' at the Boston Lyric Opera (2018)

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Braham
1943 births
2018 deaths
People educated at Clifton College
Alumni of University College, Oxford
English Jews
English theatre directors
Male actors from London
Officers of the Order of the British Empire