Sally Greene

Sally Greene OBE is a British entrepreneur, theatre impresario, restaurateur and philanthropist. She is known for her restorations of the Old Vic and Criterion theatres in London’s West End, as well the famous jazz venue Ronnie Scott’s. Greene also co-produced Billy Elliott the Musical with Stephen Daldry, and has worked as executive producer for multiple theatre, film and television projects through her production company Greene Light Stage.

Sally Greene

OBE
OccupationProducer, Restaurateur
Spouse(s)Robert Bourne
Websitehttp://sallygreeneobe.com/

In 2006, Greene received an OBE for services to drama.[1]

Early life and education

Greene is the daughter of lawyer and amateur playwright Basil Greene.  She initially trained as an actress, before moving backstage as a stage manager.[2] Greene also wrote a theatre column for Tatler in the 1980s.[3]

Greene attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[2]

Career

Greene’s career in theatre began with the restoration of the Richmond Theatre. She bought the lease in 1987 before renegotiating it into a charitable trust with the local authority funding the restoration of the building.[3]

In 1992 Greene set up the Criterion Trust on a similar business plan, after which the theatre went under a complete restoration.[4][3]

In 1998, the Old Vic Theatre which is among Britain’s oldest theatres, was in talks for development as an alternative venue, with speculation that it might become a nightclub or bingo hall, leading to an appeal by Culture Secretary Chris Smith.[5]

Greene formed The Old Vic Theatre Trust, which enlisted figures like Alex Bernstein and Stephen Daldry. The Trust bought the building, offering an initial payment of £1.5 million, which was later supplemented by a further £2 million to transfer the ownership from the previous owner Ed Mirvish into the charitable trust.[5] In 2003 she formed the Old Vic Theatre Company.[3] In 1994 Greene founded Greene Light Stage, which she runs alongside CEO and Producer Rebecca Quigley.[6] The company has been involved in over 100 shows including Billy Elliott the Musical with Stephen Daldry. The show first performed at the Victoria Palace Theatre, in 2005.[2] In 2007 she launched Greene Light Films, which produces films and short films and made its first venture into television production in 2019.

Greene owns prominent jazz venue Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho. Together with philanthropist Michael Watt, she took over from Pete King in 2005, and facilitated a complete refurbishment.[7][8]

Greene also owns No. Fifty Cheyne, opened in 2004 as the Cheyne Walk Brasserie in Chelsea and relaunched in 2019 under the new name.[7][9]

Greene is a Trustee at the Old Vic Theatre Trust, the Criterion Theatre Trust, Greene Light Stage, Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation, and the London Music Fund.

Work

Theatre

Film

Television

Planned adaptation of the life of Dame Joan and Jackie Collins (executive producer)

Personal life

Greene is married to British property developer Robert Bourne.[10]

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References
  1. "New Years Honours - United Kingdom". The London Gazette. 29 December 2006. p. 10. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  2. Cooke, Rachel (2005-04-03). "'I'm a risk-taker, there's no doubt about it'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  3. "Lay down Sally". The Sunday Times. 2006-07-09. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  4. Kercher, John (2001-12-03). "A hard act to follow". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  5. "BBC News | Entertainment | Old Vic theatre saved". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  6. Masso, Giverny (2017-02-27). "Joseph Smith joins Elton John's theatre company as producer". The Stage. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  7. Osborne, Alistair (2014-03-03). "How Ronnie Scott's has reversed its fortunes". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  8. "A London jazz club celebrates 50 years". Financial Times. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  9. Armstrong, Hilary (2019-04-08). "New Openings: Sally Greene's Cheyne Walk Brasserie reopens as No. Fifty Cheyne". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  10. "Robert Bourne and Sally Greene". The Sunday Times. 2009-04-26. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
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