ATG Retains Top Spot In Stage 100, Beating Lloyd Webber And Mackintosh

The Stage has today announced The Stage 100 - the industry bible's annual guide to the 100 most influential people in UK theatre, now in its 15th year.

Husband and wife team Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire, the joint chief executives of Ambassador Theatre Group, top the list for the second year in a row, as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh slip down to sixth and fifth respectively.

The subsidised sector's three leading men - Dominic Cooke, Michael Grandage and Nicholas Hytner are tied in second place.

New entries into the top 20 are: Cultural Olympiad supremo Ruth Mackenzie, Young Vic artistic director David Lan, Barbican Centre director of programming Louise Jeffreys and Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith.

Alistair Smith, deputy editor of The Stage, said: "This is the first time in the 15-year history of the Stage 100 that neither Andrew Lloyd Webber nor Cameron Mackintosh has placed in the top two.

"The shift in power to the Ambassador Theatre Group, which operates more theatres in both London and the regions than anyone else, represents a new world order for the theatre industry. No longer is it led by two powerful and personally wealthy individuals, but by a
company run on finance, with shareholders to answer to.

"The placing of Cooke, Grandage and Hytner in second also reflects the increased influence and importance of the subsidised sector - especially in terms of quality play production. This triumvirate will be crucial in sustaining UK theatre through the tough funding conditions
ahead."