My mother, Ann Pinnington, who has died aged 84, was a producer and artistic director who championed pub and fringe theatre. Her work in those spheres led to a number of touring productions and West End transfers, including The Winslow Boy (1983), The Jungle Book (1985) and The Seven Year Itch (1986).
Born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, she was the daughter of Marjorie (nee Simpson) and George Russell, a jockey. While attending Hull College of Commerce school she was offered a place at Rada in London, although she was persuaded by her parents not to take it up. Instead, after leaving school at 18, she trained as a nurse at Hull Royal Infirmary, but left towards the end of her course, after having worked on children’s wards.
