Robert Robson (1954 – 2013)

Robert, who joined the Lowry in 1998 as Theatres Director and became Artistic Director in 2003, provided inspirational artistic leadership. His overall strategic control of the organisation included a successful artistic vision which included performing and visual arts, as well as the community and education programmes. He created partnerships with some of the country’s best performance companies including The National Theatre, Opera North, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Rambert.

Robert started his career in the arts with a post-graduate diploma in Theatre Studies, working at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, and later became a Community Drama Worker with Easterhouse Festival Society, beginning a long-standing presence in the Scottish theatre scene. Other roles included Artistic Director of Cumbernauld Theatre, Festival Director of Mayfest, Glasgow’s international festival, and Theatre Director at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.

Julia Fawcett, CEO of The Lowry, said: “I was so impressed by his fierce intelligence, his passionate commitment to the arts and his independence of mind… Robert was both respected and loved by all his colleagues. To me, he was indispensable: a calming influence at times of crisis, a giver of wise counsel, a trusted friend, a ferocious defender and advocate of the arts and an unparalleled source of industry gossip! His death leaves a huge hole in the arts community, in The Lowry and in the lives of his family and all who knew him”.