John Dexter English theater, opera and film director Date of Birth: 02.08.1925 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of John Dexter
2. Early Career
3. National Theatre of Great Britain
4. Opera and Film
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of John Dexter

John Dexter was an English theatre, opera, and film director. He was born in 1925 in Derby, England. At the age of 14, John left school and joined the British army to fight in World War II. After the war, he pursued a career as an actor but soon discovered his true passion lay in directing and producing stage shows.

Early Career

In 1957, John Dexter was appointed as the deputy director of the English Stage Company. His first major success came in 1959 with the production of "Roots." This was followed by successful productions of "Toys in the Attic" in 1960 and "Saint Joan" in 1963.

National Theatre of Great Britain

In 1964, John Dexter became the deputy director of the National Theatre of Great Britain. It was during this time that he produced the incredibly successful play "The Royal Hunt of the Sun." He also collaborated with Laurence Olivier to direct "Othello," which received overwhelming acclaim and was recorded by RCA.

Opera and Film

John Dexter's talent extended beyond theatre. He directed several films, including "The Virgin Soldiers" in 1969, "The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker" in 1970, and "I Want What I Want" in 1972. He also made significant contributions to the opera world, making his debut at Covent Garden in 1966 with "Benvenuto Cellini." In 1983, he directed "Le rossignol" at the same theatre.

Throughout his career, John Dexter worked with various opera companies, including the Hamburg State Opera and the Paris Opéra. He directed notable productions such as "Les vêpres siciliennes" in 1969, "From the House of the Dead," "Billy Budd," and "Boris Godunov" in Hamburg in 1972, and "La forza del destino" in Paris in 1975.

Later Years and Legacy

From 1974 to 1981, John Dexter held the position of production director at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. During this time, he directed numerous operas, including "Aïda," "Le prophète," "Dialogues des Carmélites," "Lulu," "Rigoletto," and "Die Entführung aus dem Serail." He also directed productions for the Paris Opéra and Zurich Opera.

John Dexter passed away on March 23, 1990, in London. He had undergone heart surgery and suffered from poliomyelitis and diabetes towards the end of his life. His autobiography, titled "The Honourable Beast," was published posthumously. Throughout his career, he received several Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for his contributions to the theatre industry.