For The First Time, The Most Influential Person In British Theatre Is An Actor: The Stage 100 For 2020

“Why? Actors are clearly a core part of theatre. But, while individual actors have certainly been influential – Mark Rylance has featured prominently in recent years – it is rare for them to truly wield influence on the whole of theatre. This is, to some degree, a sign of the times … Had we started this list in the 1950s or 1960s, Laurence Olivier would have been in with a fair shout of securing the top spot, probably repeatedly. But the era of the actor-manager has largely passed, meaning that … their influence is often limited in scope and scale.” But this year, the list is topped by an actor — an 80-year-old, no less. (For the complete list and further coverage, click here.) – The Stage