Thelma Holt, is a British theatre producer and former actress.

After a successful career as an actress, in partnership with Charles Marowitz

Charles Marowitz

Charles Marowitz is an American critic, theatre director, and playwright who has been a regular columnist on Swans Commentary—a cultural-political bi-weekly—since 2004...

, Thelma founded the Open Space Theatre

Open Space Theatre

The Open Space Theatre was created by Charles Marowitz and Thelma Holt in 1968.It began in a basement on Tottenham Court Road in London, then transferred to an art deco post office on the Euston Road in 1976. Thelma attracted a team of volunteer architects and workers to build the theatre...

 in Tottenham Court Road, London, which became the forerunner of the London fringe. In 1977, joined The Round House

The Round House

The Round House is a Grade II* listed late Georgian elliptical stuccoed villa located on Broxhill Road in Havering-atte-Bower, London. The house was built between 1792 and 1794 by John Plaw for William Sheldon. The house is open as part of the Open House London weekend.-References:...

 in Chalk Farm as Artistic and Executive Director. There she instigated a policy of bringing the best of regional theatre to London: Citizens Theatre (Glasgow), Royal Exchange Theatre Company (Manchester), Stephen Joseph Theatre

Stephen Joseph Theatre

The Stephen Joseph Theatre is a theatre in the round in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England that was founded by Stephen Joseph and was the first theatre in the round in Britain....

 Company, Scarborough.

She gave London the opportunity to see some of the successful productions initiated at the Edinburgh Festival. Other visiting companies included: Josef Szanja (Poland), The Pickle Family Circus (USA), Circus Oz

Circus Oz

Circus Oz was founded in December 1977, with its first performance season in March 1978. Circus Oz was the amalgamation of two already well-known groups - Soapbox Circus, a roadshow set up by the Australian Performing Group in 1976, and the New Ensemble Circus, a continuation of the New Circus,...

 (Australia), Antoine Vitez

Antoine Vitez

Antoine Vitez was a French actor, director, and poet.He was born in Paris, France and became an actor at the age of 19. He was director of the Théâtre national de Chaillot for seven years before being named to head the Comedie Francaise, a French theater company.-References:...

 (France), Rustaveli Theatre

Rustaveli Theatre

Rustaveli National Theatre also referred to as Rustaveli State Drama Theatre, is found in Tbilisi, Georgia. The theatre is conveniently located at 17 Rustaveli Avenue, one of the main streets in Tbilisi...

 Company (Georgia, CIS).

In 1983 The Round House

The Round House

The Round House is a Grade II* listed late Georgian elliptical stuccoed villa located on Broxhill Road in Havering-atte-Bower, London. The house was built between 1792 and 1794 by John Plaw for William Sheldon. The house is open as part of the Open House London weekend.-References:...

 closed and Thelma Holt joined the Theatre of Comedy as Executive Producer where she produced Loot

Loot (play)

Loot is a two-act play by the English playwright Joe Orton. The play is a dark farce that satirises the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death, and the integrity of the police force....

by Joe Orton

Joe Orton

John Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies...

, directed by Jonathan Lynn

Jonathan Lynn

Jonathan Lynn is an English actor, comedy writer and director. He is best known for being the co-writer of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Personal life:...

 and starring Leonard Rossiter

Leonard Rossiter

Leonard Rossiter was an English actor known for his roles as Rupert Rigsby, in the British comedy television series Rising Damp , and Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin...

. (For further information on Thelma Holt at both the Open Space and at the Round House, see "Vaulting Ambitions" by Jennie Schiele, published in 2004.)

Work with the National Theatre

In 1985 Thelma Holt joined the National Theatre as Head of Touring and Commercial Exploitation. She was responsible for the following NT West End transfers: "A Chorus of Disapproval", "The Petition", "Brighton Beach Memoirs", "Three Men on a Horse", "A View from the Bridge". She was also responsible for major tours of National Theatre productions to: Paris, Vienna, Zurich, North America, Moscow, Tbilisi, Tokyo, Epidaurus.

Thelma Holt produced INTERNATIONAL 87, a series of four visits to the National Theatre by international theatre companies: "The Hairy Ape" by Eugene O'Neill directed by Peter Stein (production from the Schaubuhne, Berlin), "Miss Julie" by August Strindberg and "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare both directed by Ingmar Bergman (Productions from the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm), "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare and "Medea" by Euripides both directed by Yukio Ninagawa (the Ninagawa Company from Tokyo), "Tomorrow was War" by the Mayakovsky Theatre Company from Moscow. For this international season Thelma Holt received the Olivier/Observer Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Theatre and a special award from Drama Magazine.

In 1998 she co-produced "The Fairy Queen" by Purcell, directed by Adrian Noble for the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

Thelma Holt produced INTERNATIONAL 89, a second series of four visit to the National Theatre by international theatre companies: "Tango Varsoviano" by Teatro del Sur (Buenos Aires), "The Grapes of Wrath" by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago), "Uncle Vanya" by Anton Chekhov from the Moscow Art Theatre, "Suicide for Love" the return of the Ninagawa Theatre Company.

Work with the Peter Hall Company

For the newly-formed Peter Hall Company, Thelma Holt was Executive Producer for: "Orpheus Descending" by Tennessee Williams (cast included Vanessa Redgrave), presented at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare (cast included Dustin Hoffman) presented at the Phoenix Theatre, London and in New York, "The Wild Duck" by Henrik Ibsen (cast included Alex Jennings, David Threlfall, Nichola McAuliffe) presented at the Phoenix Theatre, London. Thelma Holt was Executive Producer for Triumph Proscenium's production of Pirandello's "Henry IV starring Richard Harris, which was presented in 1990 at Wyndham's Theatre, London. In 1990 she also presented two visiting productions at the National Theatre: "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare (the Bulandra Theatre Company from Bucharest), "The Kingdom of Desire" based on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (the Contemporary Legend Theatre from Taiwan).

1990-1999

1990

• THREE SISTERS by Anton Chekhov in a new version by Nikolas Simmonds, directed by Robert Sturua, cast included: Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave and Jemma Redgrave, presented at the Queen's Theatre

• TANGO AT THE END OF WINTER by Shimizu in a version by Peter Barnes, directed by Yukio Ninagawa, cast included Alan Rickman, presented at the Piccadilly Theatre

1991

• ELECTRA by Sophocles, RSC production directed by Deborah Warner, cast included Fiona Shaw in the title role, presented at Riverside Studios follows by a tour to Bobigny (France), Bradford (Transport Museum), Derry (Sports Centre) and Glasgow (Tramway)

1992

• HAMLET by William Shakespeare, directed by Robert Sturua, cast included Alan Rickman in the title role, presented at Riverside Studios and on tour in the UK

• LES ATRIDES directed by Ariane Mnouchkine, production from Le Theatre du Soleil, Paris, presented at Robin Mills, Bradford as part of the European Arts Festival

• LE BARUFFE CHIOZZOTTE directed by Giorgio Strehler, production from Piccolo Theatre, Milan, presented at the Royal National Theatre

• SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR by Pirandello, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, presented at the Royal National Theatre

• THE TEMPEST by William Shakespeare, directed by Yukio Ninagawa, Ninagawa Company presented at the Barbican Theatre, London

1993

• MEDEA by Euripides, directed by Yukio Ninagawa, Ninagawa Company in association with Point Tokyo Co. Ltd., presented in Zurich, Switzerland

• MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare, directed by Matthew Warchus, cast included Mark Rylance and Janet McTeer, presented at the Queen's Theatre. Production awarded the Sir Tyrone Guthrie Award for Best Production at the Shakespeare Globe Classic Awards.

1994

• PEER GYNT by Henrik Ibsen in a version by Frank McGuinness, directed by Yukio Ninagawa, cast included Michael Sheen in the title role. World Tour including premiere performances at the Winter Olympics in Norway

• THE CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE by George Colman & Garrick, directed by Nigel Hawthorne, cast included Nigel Hawthorne, presented at the Queen's Theatre, London

1995

• THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov, directed by Robert Sturua, cast included Deborah Findlay, Michael Sheen, Kate Beckinsale. Regional UK Tour

• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare, directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Ninagawa Company presented at Plymouth Pavilions and at Newcastle Playhouse

• ANTONY & CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare, directed by Vanessa Redgrave, cast included Vanessa Redgrave, David Harewood. Riverside Studios and Regional UK tour

• THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams, directed by Sam Mendes, cast included Zoe Wanamaker. Donmar Warehouse production transfer to Comedy Theatre

1996

• OBSERVE THE SUNS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME by Frank McGuinness, directed by Patrick Mason. Abbey Theatre Dublin production presented at the Barbican Theatre and on tour

• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare, directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Return of Ninagawa Company production to Mermaid Theatre, London

• A DOLL'S HOUSE by Henrik Ibsen in a version by Frank McGuinness, directed by Anthony Page, presented as a regional UK tour followed by a season at the Playhouse Theatre, London and subsequently in association with Bill Kenwright at the Belasco Theatre, New York. Cast included Janet McTeer, Owen Teale. Tony Award for Best Actress (Janet McTeer). Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor (Owen Teale). Tony Award for Best Director (Anthony Page). Tony Award for Best Revival (Thelma Holt/Bill Kenwright)

1997

• THE MAIDS by Jean Genet, directed by John Crowley. Regional tour of Donmar Warehouse production

• LES FAUSSES CONFIDENCES by Marivaux. Comedie Francaise production presented at the Royal National Theatre

• OH LES BEAUX JOURS by Samuel Beckett directed by Peter Brook presented at Riverside Studios

• SHINTOKU-MARU, directed by Yukio Ninagawa, cast included Tatsuya Fujiwara. Ninagawa Company at the Barbican Theatre

1998

• THE RELAPSE by John Vanburgh, directed and designed by Philip Prowse. Citizens Theatre Glasgow and UK tour

• HAMLET by William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Hiroyuki Sanada in the title. Presented at the Barbican Theatre as part of BITE season

1999

• CLEO CAMPING, EMMANUELLE & DICK by Terry Johnson, directed by Terry Johnson. Royal National Theatre production presented on UK tour

• MACBETH by William Shakespeare, directed by John Crowley cast included Rufus Sewell in the title role. Presented at the Queen's Theatre

• KING LEAR by William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa cast included Nigel Hawthorne in the title role. Royal Shakespeare Company production in association with HoriPro Inc. presented in Tokyo, London and in Stratford-upon-Avon

2000-2011

2000

• MISS JULIE by August Strindberg in a version by Frank McGuinness directed by Michael Boyd. Cast included Christopher Eccleston, Aisling O'Sullivan, Maxine Peake. Presented at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

2001

• SEMI-MONDE by Noel Coward directed and designed by Philip Prowse. London premiere production presented at the Lyric Theatre, London

• SOTOBA KOMACHI and YOROBOSHI by Yukio Mishima directed by Yukio Ninagawa cast included Tatsuya Fujiwara. Ninagawa Company presented at the Barbican Theatre, London as part of BITE: 01

2002

• VIA DOLOROSA by David Hare directed by Stephen Daldry. David Hare in award-winning one man show at Duchess Theatre in association with Bill Kenwright

• THE TEMPEST by William Shakespeare directed by Patrick Mason cast included Richard Briers. UK tour in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth (Stage 1 of Arts Council Three Year Initiative)

2002/03

• THE JACOBEANS - West End presentation at the Gielgud Theatre in association with Bill Kenwright of RSC productions: THE ISLAND PRINCESS by John Fletcher, THE MALCONTENT by John Marston, THE ROMAN ACTOR by Philip Massinger, EASTWARD HO! by Ben Jonson, John Marston, George Chapman, EDWARD III by William Shakespeare. Olivier Special Award to the Acting Ensemble 2003

2003

• PERICLES by William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Ninagawa Company at the Royal National Theatre

• GHOSTS by Henrik Ibsen directed by Ingmar Bergman. Royal Dramaten Theatre, Stockholm production presented at the Barbican Theatre as part of BITE:03

• HAMLET by William Shakespeare directed by Jonathan Kent. HoriPro Inc. production presented at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London

• THE TAMING OF THE SHREW by William Shakespeare directed by Mark Rosenblatt cast included Nichola McAuliffe, Ross Kemp. UK tour in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth (Stage 2 of Arts Council Three Year Initiative)

2004

• THE TAMING OF THE SHREW by William Shakespeare in repertoire with THE TAMER TAMED by John Fletcher directed by Gregory Doran RSC productions presented in association with Bill Kenwright at the Queen's Theatre, London

• ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL by William Shakespeare directed by Gregory Doran cast included Judi Dench. RSC production presented in association with Bill Kenwright at the Gielgud Theatre, London

• OTHELLO by William Shakespeare directed by Gregory Doran cast included Antony Sher. RSC production presented on tour in Japan in association with HoriPro Inc.

• WE HAPPY FEW by Imogen Stubbs directed by Trevor Nunn cast included Juliet Stevenson. Presented in association with Bill Kenwright at the Gielgud Theatre, London

• HAMLET by William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa cast included Michael Maloney in the title role. UK tour and presentation at Barbican Theatre as part of BITE: 04 in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth (Stage 3 of Arts Council Three Year Initiative)

2005

• MAN AND BOY by Terence Rattigan directed by Maria Aitken with David Suchet in the leading role. Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford production presented in association with Bill Kenwright, Nica Burns for Theatreshare plc and Michael Whitehall at the Duchess Theatre, London

• PRIMO by Primo Levi adapted by Antony Sher directed by Richard Wilson. Solo performance by Antony Sher National Theatre production presented in association with Bill Kenwright at the Music Box, New York. Outer Critics' Circle Award for Solo Performance

• TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare directed by Patrick Mason with Matthew Kelly as Malvolio. UK tour in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth

• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare directed by Gregory Doran. Tour to Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Japan. RSC production presented in association with HoriPro Inc. and Metropolitan Art Space, Tokyo

2006

• THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller directed by Dominic Cooke with Iain Glen in principal role. RSC production presented in association with Bill Kenwright at Gielgud Theatre

• HAY FEVER by Noel Coward directed by Peter Hall with Judi Dench and Peter Bowles. Produced in association with Bill Kenwright at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

• BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE by Fraser Grace directed by Antony Sher (debut as director) at Duchess Theatre.RSC production presented in association with Nica Burns

• TITUS ANDRONICUS by William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Presented in association with HoriPro Inc. Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Theatre Royal Plymouth. Part of RSC Complete Works Festival

• THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer new adaptation in two parts by Mike Poulton RSC production of an RSC Commission directed by Gregory Doran, Rebecca Gatward & Jonathan Munby. Presented at Gielgud Theatre in association with Bill Kenwright

2007

• CORIOLANUS by William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Presented in association with HoriPro Inc. at the Barbican Theatre as part of bite 2007

• KEAN by Jean Paul Sartre. Antony Sher in the title role directed by Adrian Noble. Presented in association with Anthony Field & John C. Causebrook at the Apollo Theatre

• THE GIANT by Antony Sher directed by Gregory Doran. In association with Hampstead Theatre and by arrangement with the RSC at Hampstead Theatre

2009

• MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare directed by Jamie Glover with Alistair McGowan and Jason Merrells. UK tour in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth

• TWELFTH NIGHT after William Shakespeare directed by Yukio Ninagawa. Presented in association with Shochiku Grand Kabuki at the Barbican Theatre as part of bite 2009

• THE ENGLISH SAMURAI by Mike Poulton & Shoichiro Kawai directed by Gregory Doran. In association with HoriPro Inc. at the Galaxy Theatre, Tokyo

2010

• GHOSTS by Henrik Ibsen in a version by Frank McGuinness directed by Iain Glen at the Duchess Theatre

• BEDROOM FARCE by Alan Ayckbourn directed by Peter Hall. Presented in association with Bill Kenwright at the Duke of York's Theatre

• MUSASHI by Inoue Hisashi directed by Yukio Ninagawa. In association with HoriPro Inc. at the Barbican Theatre as part of bite 2010

2011

• RUBY WAX: LOSING IT, in a co-production with the Menier Chocolate Factory, at the Duchess Theatre.

Honours & Awards

OLIVIER/OBSERVER AWARD - Outstanding Achievement (1987)

SHAKESPEARE GLOBE CLASSIC AWARDS - Tyrone Guthrie Award for Best Production (1993) [MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING]

TONY AWARD (with Bill Kenwright) - Best Revival (1996) [A DOLL'S HOUSE]

C.B.E. - Queen's Birthday Honours List (1994)

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL THEATRE - British International Theatre Institute (1994)

ORDER OF THE RISING SUN, GOLD RAYS WITH ROSETTE (2004) - presented by Japanese government

DISTINGUISHED FRIEND OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY (2006)

THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S SPECIAL AWARD FOR INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT (2006)

Positions Held

YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE - Chairman (2002 to 2005) subsequently Associate Director

ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND - Member of Council and Chairman of Drama Advisory Panel (1994-1998)

ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART - Member of Council and Member of Finance & General Purposes Committee

CITIZENS THEATRE, GLASGOW - Vice-President

ALMEIDA THEATRE - Director (2001 to 2009)

STAGE ONE (formerly THEATRE INVESTMENT FUND) - Director and Chairman of Young Producers' Bursary Panel

MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY - Member of Court

STATE OF UNREST THEATRE COMPANY - Patron

OXFORD UNIVERSITY - Cameron Mackintosh Professor Contemporary Theatre (1998)

OXFORD UNIVERSITY DRAMATIC SOCIETY - Patron

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY - Associate Producer (from 2004)

Honorary Degrees

OXFORD UNIVERSITY - Emeritus Fellow, St. Catherine's College (2003)

OPEN UNIVERSITY - Hon. MA (1998)

MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY - Hon. Doctorate (1994)

LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMING ARTS - Companion (2002)

UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA - Hon. D. Litt (2003)

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH - Hon. Doc. of Arts (2010)