Hall, the son of veteran British theatre director Sir Peter Hall, who founded the RSC and was artistic director of the National Theatre, is founder and artistic director of Propeller, an all-male Shakespeare company which mounts productions every 12-18 months to tour in the U.K. and internationally, regularly playing at New York's BAM and festivals around Europe. He will retain this post when he takes on his new role.
He is also currently an associate of the National Theatre, where his productions have included A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Edmond and Once in a Lifetime, the Old Vic (where his Propeller productions of The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night played) and Watermill's Newbury Theatre (where his Olivier nominated Propeller production of Rose Rage originated before transferring to the West End's Haymarket Theatre). He was most recently represented in the West End by the transfer of his touring production of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea to the Vaudeville, and last year also directed Richard N. Goodwin's Two Men of Florence in Boston. Other West End credits include Calico, Macbeth and The Constant Wife. He has directed Henry V and The Two Gentlemen of Verona for the RSC.
On Broadway, he directed Natasha Richardson as Blanche du Bois in A Streetcar Named Desire for the Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54. He is currently in post-production for two episodes of "Strike Back," produced by Left Bank Pictures. He has also directed four episodes of the BBC drama series "Spooks," by writers including Dennis Kelly and David Farr.
In a press statement, Hall has commented, "Hampstead Theatre and I share a passion for finding new audiences for theatre and I am thrilled to be taking over as artistic director. I am excited by the company's long and successful association with new writing and with the opportunities the building offers in creating a dynamic dialogue between the audience and the actors."
Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of the board of Hampstead Theatre, has said, "Edward has an enormous amount of energy and confidence to bring to the company. He has broad experience across the theatre and film mediums, and an infectious excitement for bringing the most innovative theatre-makers together. We eagerly anticipate his first season."
