Tributes paid to Sir Peter

VANESSA Redgrave and Sir Patrick Stewart have led tributes to Sir Peter Hall, the former director of the National Theatre and founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who has died aged 86.

The theatre great died in a London hospital on Monday surrounded by his family.

Actress Redgrave worked with Sir Peter in Stratford, on Broadway, and later, with her daughter Joely Richardson, with the Peter Hall Company. She said: “I send his family lots of love. He was a fascinating director.”

Sir Patrick said that the director “transformed classical and modern UK theatre and gave me a career”.

Actors Laurence Fox and Toby Stephens also paid tribute.