My husband, George Smyth, was a teacher and theatre-maker who had an influence on the development of community performing arts in the north-east of England. His innovative work in collaboration, and increasing participation in hard-to-reach audiences, made an important contribution to experimental theatre.
In 1967, George, who has died aged 89, set up Theatre Probe, “to explore the possibilities of a new type of theatre, based on improvisation”, in an underground poetry venue, the medieval Morden Tower in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
