Tributes poured in from Oxford’s academic community at the weekend, following the death of theatre giant and Honorary Magdalen College Fellow Peter Brook.

Mr Brook was a hugely influential figure in the theatre world and was often referred to as ‘our greatest living theatre director’.

The theatre director died on Saturday (July 2) in France, where he has lived since the early 1970s, aged 97.

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Oxford Mail: Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) of theatre and film director Peter Brook who has died at the age of 97. Picture: PAUndated handout photo issued by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) of theatre and film director Peter Brook who has died at the age of 97. Picture: PA

As a tribute to him, Magdalen College flew its flag at half-mast on Monday (July 4) while West End theatres dimmed their lights before performances.

During his seven decade career in the arts he picked up a range of awards including Tonys, Emmys and an Olivier and directed famous names including Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud and Adrian Lester.

He was also awarded a Praemium Imperiale, a Prix Italia, the Padma Shri, and was made a CBE in 1965 and a Companion of Honour in 1998.

Shakespearean and early modernist Dr Robert Stagg, of St Anne’s College, met Peter Brook at a party.

When the director was assembling party-goers for a photograph, Dr Stagg said: “In assembling them for a photo, you could see his directorial skill at work in miniature: sharp, but kindly, with a shrewd-eyed sense of tableau and frame.”

Oxford University Shakespeare scholar Professor Michael Scott said the director’s work had a “huge influence” on him.

He wrote on Twitter: “What can be said about Peter Brook that hasn’t already been said? He was probably the greatest theatre  director of the mid to late twentieth century.

“His writing about theatre was as honest and sublime as his productions. I was too young to see his legendary ‘King Lear’ with Paul Scofield live on stage although I did see the film version.

“I was fortunate enough to see the first production of the never to be forgotten ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, (more than once!). He had taken the phrase ‘rough magic’ from ‘The Tempest’ as a foundation for his circus production but also for his approach to theatre generally.

“His ‘Marat/Sade’ and ‘Mahabharata’ were challenging even stunning. His classic ‘The Empty Space’ book illustrated the changed face of theatre which he had brought about. He inspired the many actors fortunate to work with him as he did the audiences who watched his productions.

“He had a good innings, but his influence on our understanding of Theatre and Shakespeare in particular will last for decades and more to come. He had a huge influence on me as he did on so many others of my generation. Peter Brook, thank you!”

In an official statement, Magdalen College said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.”

Mr Brook was born in  Chiswick, west London, on March 21 1925 to Lithuanian Jewish parents and attended Westminster School followed by Oxford University.

While at Oxford, he studied modern languages at Magdalen College.

The directors first production was of Dr Faustus in 1943 at the Torch Theatre in London.

The director went on to be director of productions at the Royal Opera House between 1947 and 1950. Here, he staged an experimental version of Richard Strauss’s Salome with sets by Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

Mr Brook was known for directing some of the 20th century’s greatest actors.

Oxford Mail: File photo dated 4/11/1998 of Peter Brook outside Buckingham Palace after receiving the Insignia of a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour from the Queen. Picture: PA File photo dated 4/11/1998 of Peter Brook outside Buckingham Palace after receiving the Insignia of a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour from the Queen. Picture: PA

In 1955 he directed Sir Lawrence Oliver as Titus Andronicus in Stratford-upon-Avon for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

This was followed by a 1962 production of King Lear starring Paul Scofield.

In 1970, Brook moved to Paris, where he set up the International Centre for Theatre Research, which travelled widely in the Middle East and Africa as part of a three-year “pilgrimage”.

His troupe would perform for rural communities often with just a carpet as a stage, the Press Association reports.

Four years later he reopened a partially derelict theatre, Bouffes du Nord, close to the French capital’s central Gare du Nord station and transformed it into the new home of the ICTR.

Although the theatre was renovated, Brook decided not to redecorate the interior so it retained a distressed look that would become its hallmark.

In 1951, Brook married actress Natasha Parry and they have two children – Irina, an actress and director, and Simon, a director.

Parry died of a stroke in July 2015 aged 84.

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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