Braham Murray


Braham Sydney Murray, OBE was an English theatre director. In 1976, he was one of five founding Artistic Directors of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, and the longest-serving.

Early years

Braham Goldstein was born in north London, the son of Samuel Goldstein. His name became Murray when his mother remarried and Philip Murray became his stepfather. He attended Clifton College, Bristol, at the age of 13 where he acted in The Bespoke Overcoat by Wolf Mankowitz and directed Ibsen's Brand in school productions. He read English at University College, Oxford from 1961.
He spent most of his time at university directing, and eventually left Oxford in 1964 without taking his degree. His student productions included The Connection by Jack Gelber, The Hostage by Brendan Behan, A Man for all Seasons by Robert Bolt and Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco. Whilst still at Oxford he co-wrote and directed Hang Down Your Head and Die for the ETC at the Oxford Playhouse. It opened on 12 February 1964, later transferring to the Comedy Theatre in London and later still to Broadway.

Foundation of the Royal Exchange Theatre

After leaving Oxford he directed The Winter's Tale at Birmingham Rep with Prunella Scales. Later, in September 1965, he was appointed artistic director of Century Theatre which became the resident company at the University Theatre in Manchester as well as touring the north-west of England using a mobile theatre. In 1967, Michael Elliott and Caspar Wrede agreed to direct productions at the Century Theatre. The following year the three men set up the 69 Theatre Company at the University, where they produced plays until 1972 when the group started to look for a permanent theatre in Manchester.
They were joined by Richard Negri – who was to design the new theatre – and actor James Maxwell, and in 1973 a temporary theatre, The Tent, was installed in the disused Royal Exchange in Manchester. The success of The Tent led to the decision being taken to build the new theatre inside the Royal Exchange. Using the Theatre in the round principles, it became the largest such theatre in the UK. The opening production in September 1976 was The Rivals, directed by Murray. He moved permanently to Manchester at this time, with his wife, designer Joanna Bryant, and their family. She had already designed many of his productions, and would continue to do so at the Royal Exchange.
He continued to be an artistic director of the Company and directed 65 productions. Murray received the OBE in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to drama. In June 2011, he announced that he was to step down as artistic director in 2012.

Productions

His productions include: -

Royal Exchange