Newport man makes theatrical return
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| Neil Murray |
A NEWPORT man is now executive producer of the National Theatre of Scotland.
Neil Murray, who grew up in Ringland, is bringing one of the theatre's acclaimed productions to a venue in his home area during a tour of the UK in May.
Black Watch is based on interviews with former soldiers who served in Iraq. It is coming to Wales for the first time and can be seen at Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, presented by Theatr Brycheiniog, RCT Theatres and Blaenau Gwent Arts Services, from May 15 to 17.
Mr Murray, whose parents John and Jean still live in Newport, went to St Gabriels Primary School and St Joseph's RC comprehensive.
He then left for Manchester Polytechnic to do a degree in public administration.
His first recollection of going to the theatre was to see a panto at Bristol Hippodrome on a trip organised by the steelworks where his father worked.
But it was while working in London as part of his degree when he went to see Death of An Accidental Tourist in the West End.
"It was just a road to Damascus," remembered 48-year-old Mr Murray.
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| Scene from the Black Watch |
"I didn't know what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to be part of that."
He began working part-time by selling ice-creams and ushering before moving up to work in the box office and with the stage crew.
After leaving university, he took his first full-time job in Newcastle in 1984 and he has worked in theatres or television ever since.
Mr Murray has lived and worked in Scotland since 1987.
For six years he was director of the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, before being appointed to the National Theatre of Scotland from its inception in 2005.
6:32pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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