Steven Pimlott sadly died on 14 February 2007 after a brave battle with cancer. He leaves behind his wife Daniela and three children; Oskar, Raphael and Phoebe.
His production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat currently at the Adelphi stands as a tribute to his magnificent achievements during his career as a theatre director.
Renowned for being able to tackle anything from straight drama and Shakespeare through comedy, musicals and opera, he was an Associate Director at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield (1987) and later with the Royal Shakespeare Company (1996 – 2002).
From 2002-2005 he was one of the Artistic Directors at the Chichester Festival Theatre and his productions there included Nathan The Wise, The Seagull and The Master and Margarita.
He began his career with the English National Opera where productions included La Bohème and Coronation of Poppea, both of which are still in the company’s repertoire. In 1988 he famously directed Carmen at Earls Court which was recently revived for the Greek National Opera in Athens in 2007. Steven’s RSC productions include Julius Caesar, Hamlet and Richard II.
As well as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat he directed the West End musicals Bombay Dreams and Doctor Dolittle and he won an Olivier Award for directing Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George at the National Theatre in London. Most recently in the West End he directed Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. At the time of his death he was working with the National Theatre on a new production of The Rose Tattoo and with Andrew Lloyd Webber on a new musical project.
Steven was also a keen and talented actor from early childhood. At Manchester Grammar School, Steven’s roles included the ‘definitive’ Gertrude and Mother Courage.
Steven took great pleasure in appearing in a cameo role in his beloved Midsomer Murders.
As a true Gilbert & Sullivan ‘anorak’, Steven had the honour of performing for the D’Oyle Carte Opera Company as the Admiral in HMS Pinafore in their very last production at the Savoy Theatre in London.
Steven Pimlott was appointed an OBE for his services to theatre in the Queen’s 2007 New Year Honour’s list.