Tributes paid to theatre director Bill Bryden after death

Tributes have been paid to Scottish theatre director Bill Bryden following his death aged 79.

Greenock-born Bryden was associate director at the National Theatre in London from 1975 to 1985 and head of drama at BBC Scotland from 1984 to 1993.

A statement from his family said: “The Scottish theatre director, playwright and television executive Bill Bryden died peacefully yesterday at the age of 79.”

Bryden’s work included productions such as The Mysteries, The Big Picnic and Son of Man in a theatre career which spanned over four decades.

We've very sad to hear that director Bill Bryden has died.

Over his long career at the National Theatre he directed shows including: Il Campiello, The Mysteries, Lark Rise, Candleford and Glengarry Glen Ross.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones and he will be much missed. pic.twitter.com/bfBNCVLKLO
— National Theatre (@NationalTheatre) January 6, 2022

His career also included the world premiere of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross.

The National Theatre wrote on Twitter: “We’ve very sad to hear that director Bill Bryden has died.

“Over his long career at the National Theatre he directed shows including: Il Campiello, The Mysteries, Lark Rise, Candleford and Glengarry Glen Ross.”

“Our thoughts are with his loved ones and he will be much missed.”

Playwright David Greig was among those to pay tribute to Bryden, stating: “So sorry to hear of the death of Bill Bryden, perhaps the greatest Scottish theatre director of his generation.

“His career covered everything from The Lyceum to The National to vast site-specific shows like The Ship & The Big Picnic. He took Scottish stories to the world.”

Bryden, who was made a CBE in 1993, is survived by his wife Angela Douglas and his two children Dillon and Kate.