Theatres across London will be dimming their lights at 19:00 tonight (31 January) in memory of the British theatre producer Duncan C. Weldon, who died on Wednesday aged 77.
Before this evening’s performances begin, lights will be dimmed for one minute as a tribute by the theatre industry and audience members to the producer and former administrator, whose prolific career spanned over 40 years, beginning as a Royal Shakespeare Theatre photographer at just 19.
With his business partner Paul Elliott, Weldon was renowned for attracting some of the world’s biggest actors to perform in prestigious West End theatres, producing hundreds of plays and pantomimes in London and around the UK. He served as Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Haymarket for 20 years (where he presented 63 consecutive plays), and as Director of Chichester Festival Theatre. Weldon received a Special Recognition Olivier Award in 2018.
The tradition of dimming theatre lights has long been performed in the West End to pay respects to theatre’s most renowned contributors.