My friend and fellow director John Burgess, who has died aged 77, played a key role in the development of new writing for the theatre.
In 1984 John helped found the National Theatre Studio, a crucible for the development of playwrights, and in 1989 he was appointed head of new writing at the NT. He commissioned and championed innovative work, with a particular commitment to marginalised voices. Indeed, he directed more plays by women (Debbie Horsfield, Sarah Daniels, Judith Johnson and others) than any other male director in the NT’s history.
