The Stage

Nicholas Hytner and Patrick Stewart knighted in New Year Honours

Published Thursday 31 December 2009 at 12:18 by Lalayn Baluch

National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner and actor Patrick Stewart have been recognised by the Queen in the New Year Honours List, with both men receiving knighthoods for their services to drama.

Stage and film director Hytner has led the South Bank venue since 2003, and previously worked at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange. He has directed films such as The Madness of King George, The Object of My Affection, and a film version of his stage production of The History Boys.

Hytner is also a successful opera director, leading productions for the likes of the English National Opera and Glyndebourne.

Stewart, who received an OBE in 2001, has a stage career spanning almost half a century. Well-known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men trilogy, Stewart has also won critical acclaim for his stage work.

Earlier this year, he appeared in Waiting for Godot alongside Ian McKellen and in 2008 appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet.

Other industry leaders to be honoured by the Queen include Barbican Centre artistic director Graham Sheffield, who received a CBE, while Lowry chief executive Julia Fawcett received an OBE, as did Manchester Royal Exchange artistic director Braham Murray and Northern Ballet Theatre artistic director David Nixon.

Actress Margaret Tyzack, Mamma Mia! film and theatre director Phyllida Lloyd, and director and arts chief Graham Devlin were honoured for their services to drama with a CBE, and National Youth Music Theatre founder Jeremy James Taylor received a CBE for his services to young people and musical theatre.

Tessa Ross, head of film and drama at Channel 4, received a CBE for her services to broadcasting, Victoria and Albert Museum director Mark Jones received a knighthood for his services to the arts, and choreographer Irene Langlands was awarded with a OBE for her contribution to dance in central Scotland.

Pineapple Dance Studios founder Debbie Moore was honoured for her services to business with an OBE, and Valerie Jackson, founder of Yorkshire performing arts school Stage 84, received an MBE.

Within the world of music, Richard Parfitt and Francis Rossi of rock group Status Quo received an OBE for their services to music and charity, while opera singer Sarah Connolly, pianist Peter Donohoe, and conducter James Loughran each received a CBE for services to classical music.

Meanwhile, British Record Industry Trust chairman John Craig received an OBE, as did composer Craig Armstrong, and a CBE was given to Universal Music Group International chairman and chief executive Lucian Grainge.

Singer and songwriter Pino Frumiento and Christopher Williams of London-based arts organisation Heart N Soul were recognised with MBEs for their services to disability arts.

The former chairman of Merseyside’s Wallasey Arts Council Noel Ormrod, and Iain Halliday, chairman of Perth theatre organisation Horsecross Arts, each received a MBE.