The British theatre world is mourning the loss of Frank Dunlop, a founding force behind London's Young Vic and a transformative director of the Edinburgh International Festival, who has died at the age of 98. Described as a pocket dynamo, his energetic spirit and visionary leadership left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.
The Architect of the Young Vic
Dunlop's most celebrated achievement was the establishment of the Young Vic theatre in 1969. He joined Laurence Olivier's National Theatre at the Old Vic in 1967 as an associate director, determined to create a programme for young audiences. His vision materialised across the road, where the Young Vic became a vital and independent entity. The theatre opened its doors on 11 September 1970 with Dunlop's energetic production of Molière's Scapino, starring Jim Dale, which drew praise from the legendary actress Sybil Thorndike.
His commitment to nurturing young talent was further demonstrated in 1972 when he gave the first professional staging of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Edinburgh Festival. This production, initially part of a double bill, eventually transferred to London's West End as a standalone hit. The Young Vic cast included Jeremy James Taylor, who later founded the National Youth Music Theatre in 1976.
A Tenure of Expansion and Controversy in Edinburgh
From 1983 to 1991, Dunlop served as the director of the Edinburgh International Festival, a role in which he was both celebrated and contentious. He dramatically expanded the drama programme, taking inspiration from Peter Daubeny's World Theatre Seasons. His eclectic and populist approach brought a dazzling array of international talent to the festival, including directors Yukio Ninagawa, Ingmar Bergman, and Andrzej Wajda, as well as the Berliner Ensemble and Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company.
While theatre critics often applauded his drama choices, music critics occasionally grumbled about his programming. Undeterred by accusations of being lowbrow, the resilient and combative Dunlop championed initiatives like the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, which performed 32 concerts under his leadership.
A Prolific and Varied Career
Born in Leeds on 15 February 1927, Dunlop was educated at Kibworth Beauchamp grammar school and University College London after national service with the RAF. His career began with his own young people's company, the Piccolo Theatre in Manchester, in 1954.
Before his tenure at the National Theatre, he was a director at the new Nottingham Playhouse and staged a famously funny production of Son of Oblomov with Spike Milligan in 1964. At the National, he relieved Olivier of administrative burdens while directing standout productions like a visceral Edward II (1968) and a dazzling The White Devil (1971).
His notable later work included a glorious Royal Shakespeare Company production of Sherlock Holmes in 1974, which transferred to Broadway, and a revival of Camelot in London's West End in 1996. He was appointed CBE in 1977 and received a special recognition Olivier award in 2017 for his contribution to British theatre.
In his later years, Dunlop lived mostly in New York. He was predeceased by his sister. His legacy as a great company man, an actors' director, and a fearless champion of accessible, vibrant theatre endures.
