'We shall not look upon his like again': Luvvies including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen and Kim Cattrall pay tribute to theatre great Sir Peter Hall (along with his widow and two ex-wives)
- Icons from across the world of showbiz have come together to pay tribute to celebrated director Sir Peter Hall
- Stephen Fry, Twiggy, Kenneth Branagh, Edward Fox, Imelda Staunton, Sir Ian McKellen at Westminster Abbey
- The former director of the National Theatre and founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company died last year
Icons from across the world of showbiz including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen and Kim Cattrell have have come together today to pay tribute to the man once dubbed the 'architect of the entire edifice of modern theatre', Sir Peter Hall.
Other showbiz greats remembering the theatrical titan, who died in September 2017 aged 86, included Stephen Fry, Twiggy, Alan Yentob, Kenneth Branagh, Edward Fox, and Imelda Staunton.
His Hollywood actress daughter Rebecca, 36, also mourned her father alongside her husband Morgan Spector, sister Emma and their father's widow Nikki Frei.
The son of a Suffolk stationmaster and the grandson of a ratcatcher, Sir Peter enjoyed a career spanning nearly 60 years and earned a reputation as a tour de force in theatre as he worked with Britain's leading actors, many of whom turned out to celebrate his life.
His long-time friend and fellow director Sir Trevor Nunn, quoting the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet, said from the pulpit at Westminster Abbey: 'This loss to the world of theatre, and indeed to the world, is immeasurable.
'He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.'
Rebecca, left, walked out with her mother, opera singer Maria Ewing - Sir Peter's third wife - and actress Leslie Caron, right - Sir Peter's first wife
Sir Peter's widow Nicki Frei (left), and their daughter Emma (centre), with Christopher Hall (right), the director's son from his marriage to the actress and dancer Leslie Caron
David Suchet performed a speech from Amadeus, which became an Oscar-winning motion picture
From left: Felicity Kendal, Kim Cattrall and Dame Judi Dench all make their way into Westminster Abbey
Actress Vanessa Redgrave worked with Sir Peter in Stratford, on Broadway, and later alongsider her daughter Joely Richardson (pictured together today) in the Peter Hall Company
The service was led by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his Bidding: 'One year ago today, Peter Hall’s life on earth drew to its close. Today, we come to celebrate his life and his works and to give thanks to almighty God for the concentrated focus of his gifts and his extraordinary enrichment of the cultural life of our nation'
Sir Trevor described the moment he first encountered Sir Peter at Cambridge, saying: 'From that moment on I was ready to follow that man to the North Pole, to the dark side of the moon. I had experienced the Peter Hall effect.'
He added during the service: 'The three most important performance companies in the land, led by the same person - 'how infinite in faculties'. And when he called action, 'how like an angel'.'
In a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, the 'visionary' force behind the Royal Shakespeare Company was hailed as the 'great impresario and director of the age'.
Actress Vanessa Redgrave, who worked with Sir Peter in Stratford and on Broadway, shared a tender moment with her daughter Joely Richardson who put a comforting arm around her mother as they made their way into the service. Inside, Redgrave gave an impassioned reading from Corinthians.
Sir Patrick Stewart, who was among those at Westminster Abbey, credited the director with 'transforming classical and modern UK theatre and giving me a career'.
Theatre Colossus Sir Peter Hall, who died in September 2017 aged 86
Stalwart of the British stage Dame Judi offered praise to Sir Peter with a speech from Anthony and Cleopatra, and David Suchet performed a speech from Amadeus, which became an Oscar-winning motion picture.
First forging a reputation with a groundbreaking production of Samuel Beckett's absurdist play Waiting for Godot, Sir Peter was deeply involved in British theatre for half a century.
Sir Peter rose to prominence with the UK premiere of Waiting for Godot in 1955, he went on to found and direct the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960, and became director of the National Theatre in 1973.
He also oversaw the artistic direction of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, which was reciprocated by performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Westminster Abbey memorial service.
Award-winning playwright Sir David Hare spoke on behalf of the assembled theatrical talents, saying: 'The best way we have to honour his memory, is try and give as much as he gave.'
Sir Peter was married four times. In order of age, his six children offered prayers in celebration of his talents, and also to his 'characteristic twinkle and his undeniable humanity'.
During the service, his family was hailed as 'the greatest of his ensembles'.
David Suchet won The Variety Club Award and received nominations for a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as Salieri. He is pictured here during his reading today
Sir Patrick Stewart (left), who is among those at Westminster Abbey, credited the director with 'transforming classical and modern UK theatre and giving me a career'. Right, Gerald Scarfe and Jane Asher
Theatre legend Sir Peter Hall was remembered at a Westminster Abbey service by his daughters Emma, far left, and Rebecca, right. Hollywood actress Rebecca was joined by her husband Morgan Spector and their child (together right)
The mood was anything but sombre as Melvyn Bragg, Sir Trevor Nunn, Stephen Fry and Sir David Hare howled with laughter as they walked out of the abbey
His long-time friend and fellow director Sir Trevor Nunn, quoting the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet, said from the pulpit: 'This loss to the world of theatre, and indeed to the world, is immeasurable'
Stalwart of the British stage Dame Judi offered praise to Sir Peter with a speech from Anthony and Cleopatra
Prayers were led by the Reverend Christopher Stoltz, Minor Canon and Precentor, and said by Sir Peter's children, Christopher, Jenny, Edward, Lucy, Rebecca and Emma, and by the Venerable David Stanton, Canon in Residence
From left: Actress Miranda Richardson, stage and television actor Peter Bowles and Irish actress Niamh Cusack
Sir Trevor Nunn, left, was friends with Sir Peter Hall for 50 years and succeeded him as Artistic Director of The RSC. In his Address, he described first meeting Hall and his vision to create an ensemble company of classical actors and a national theatre on London’s south bank
Before the celebrated director Sir Peter Hall left the National Theatre, which he had helped to establish, he made its press officer, Nicki Frei (right, with his daughter Rebecca), his fourth wife
Sir Peter's widow Nicki and daughter Emma. Hall’s married four times and fathered six children
Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall holds an order of service after attending the service of thanksgiving
The service was sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir directed by James O'Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers while the Monteverdi Choir sang Es ist nun aus mit meinem Leben by Johann Christoph Bach
Sir Peter also directed dozens of productions in the West End and on Broadway and was an internationally renowned opera director working at many of the world's leading houses.
Born in Bury St Edmunds on November 22, 1930, Sir Peter was the son of a Suffolk stationmaster and grandson of a ratcatcher.
His parents were working class people who believed in education as a means of overcoming the class system and they encouraged him to excel.
From early on he knew he wanted to direct, perhaps not in so many words but he wanted to be the one who 'made it all happen'.
He was once quoted as saying: 'The greatest blessing I've had in life is to know what I wanted to do, and then to find that the world would let me do it.'
Before going to university he spent his national service in the RAF and became an acting sergeant teaching economics and business management at a demobilisation centre in Germany, a period in his life which he looked back on with loathing.
Sir Peter made his debut at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1956 with Love's Labour's Lost: his productions in the 1957-1959 seasons included Cymbeline with Peggy Ashcroft, Coriolanus with Laurence Olivier and A Midsummer Night's Dream with Charles Laughton.
From left: Actresses Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Patricia Hodge
David Suchet played the role of Antonio Salieri in Sir Peter's production of Amadeus. Peter Hall directed the original production of Amadeus in 1979 at London's National Theatre
Sir Ian Holm - who won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear - was among those paying tribute
Sir Tom Stoppard and playwright Sir David Hare who gave a tribute to Sir Peter. He told the congragation: ‘When we have work that we believe in, we fight to keep it on, Peter said’
Vanessa Redgrave read 1 Corinthians 13, while Dame Judi Dench read from Act V of ‘Antony and Cleopatra'
The scene outside Westminster Abbey: A tour de force of Hollywood heavyweights came together to remember Sir Peter
From left: Sir Kenneth Branagh, Sir Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes
Actors Dame Maggie Smith (left), Sir Ian McKellen (second left), Roger Allam (third from right) and Micheal Gambon (far right)
Imelda Staunton and husband Jim Carter went along to the service of thanksgiving to pay tribute
Actor Edward Fox and his wife Joanna David and right, Dame Maggie Smith happily stopped for a photo outside Westminster Abbey
Musical theatre star Elaine Paige (pictured with Nickolas Grace), described the late director as being 'like a father figure' to her
From left: Actor Tim McInnerny, Sir Trevor Nunn and Sir Ian McKellen were all among the mourners today
Actress Vanessa Redgrave, who worked with Sir Peter in Stratford and on Broadway, shared a tender moment with her daughter Joely Richardson who put a comforting arm around her mother as they made their way into the service
Left, Fashion designer-turned-sculptor Nicole Farhi and right, actress Miranda Richardson
In 1960, aged 29, he was appointed as Artistic Director, and created the Royal Shakespeare Company to realise his vision of a resident ensemble of actors, directors and designers producing both modern and classic texts, with a distinctive house style.
The company not only played in Stratford but expanded into the Aldwych Theatre, as a first London home.
Sir Peter's many productions for the RSC included Hamlet (1965, with David Warner), The Government Inspector (1966, with Paul Scofield), the world premiere of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming (1965) and The Wars of the Roses (1963) adapted with John Barton from Shakespeare's history plays.
The latter was described at the time as 'the greatest Shakespearian event in living memory which also laid down the doctrine of Shakespearian relevance to the modern world.'
His great achievements in the arts were recognised throughout his career and awards included Chevalier, Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 1965, London Theatre Critics's Award for Best Director in 1963 for Wars Of The Roses, The Homecoming and Hamlet in 1965 and the Antoinette Perry Award for Best Director for Amadeus in 1981.
Sir Peter handed the company on to Trevor Nunn in 1968, and took over the National Theatre in 1973 which he ran for fifteen years until 1988.
The director's widow Nicki Frei (third left), stood outside Westminster Abbey beside his former wife Maria Ewing (fourth left)
Ralph Fiennes (left) and playwright, screenwriter and theatre and film director, Sir David Hare (right)
Sir Peter's successor Sir Trevor Nunn shared an animated joke with Sir David Hare and his wife Nicole Farhi
Actor, musician, writer, and theatre director Simon Callow said of the late director; 'We had a warm rapport from the start that never faded'
Stephen Fry and Twiggy joined a cohort of celebrities across the world of musical theatre, modelling and acting making their way into the service
Sir Trevor Nunn, Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson greeted one another on the steps
The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, said: 'We celebrate the work in theatre and opera and film of a director and impresario known as the most important figure in British theatre for half a century, whose influence on the artistic life of Britain in the twentieth century was without parallel'
Dame Judi Dench read from Act V of 'Antony and Cleopatra' during the service. She appeared in Sir Peter's landmark National Theatre production of the play with Anthony Hopkins in 1987
Left, English actor Peter Bowles and right, actor, comedian and doctor Tony Gardner
David Suchet performed a speech from Amadeus, which became an Oscar-winning motion picture. He played Salieri in Sir’s revival production of Amadeus at the Old Vic Theatre in 1988, opposite Michael Sheen as Mozart
Leslie Caron (right) the former wife of Sir Peter Hall, spoke to an animated Dame Judi Dench
Daughters of the late Peter Hall, Emma Hall (left), and Rebecca Hall (right), stood with guests as they left Westminster Abbey
Czech-born British playwright and screenwriter, Sir Tom Stoppard seen making his way into the service
Kim Cattrall hugged a friend as actors across the world of stage and screen came together
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