Hytner, Nicholas (1956– )

English theatre and film director, artistic director of the Royal National Theatre in London from 2003. He first made his name in theatre directing the Royal Shakespeare Company's Measure for Measure (1988) and the stage production of Miss Saigon (1989). In 1994 he broke into feature films, helming the UK production of The Madness of King George.

Hytner's first big production as the new artistic director of the National Theatre was Jerry Springer – the Opera (2003). The choice of production – an opera based on the eponymous US television talk show – along with Hytner's initiative to offer most of the tickets for its new Olivier season for £10, signalled the start of his drive to expand the National's appeal and broaden the theatre-going audience. He won a Tony award for directing a revival of Miss Saigon (1994) and an Olivier Award for directing Alan Bennett's The History Boys (2004).

After The Madness of King George, Hytner directed films in the USA including Arthur Miller's play The Crucible (1996), the romance The Object of My Affection (1998), and the ballet drama Center Stage (2000).