Bob Carlton, the creator of The Tempest-inspired Return to the Forbidden Planet, has died following a battle with cancer.
The writer and director who created the award-winning ‘jukebox rock‘n’roll musical during his tenure as artistic director of London’s Bubble Theatre, went on to make his mark as artistic director of the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, holding the post for 17 years before stepping down in 2014.
Widely seen as the saviour of the Queen’s Theatre, Carlton began his work at the Hornchurch venue in 1997 when the threat of closure loomed.
When he left the post 17 years later after directing a crowd-pleasing production of his Return to the Forbidden Planet, he said: “I am so proud of everything we have achieved over the last 17 years – it has been a true team effort involving a lot of very dedicated and ingenious people, who have created quality theatre on shoestring budgets.
“I’m looking forward to new adventures but will always think fondly of the Queen’s. I hope it continues to be a place where our whole community comes to enjoy professional, affordable, truly fantastic theatre.”
Actor Con O’Neill was among the many former colleagues and friends posting tributes to Bob Carlton on Twitter, writing: ‘This man gave me my first professional acting job. It changed my life and set me on this path. He gave me, and many like me, opportunity, validation and belief in ourselves. I will always be in his debt. Rest in Peace Bob Carlton. Well played sir x.”
Carlton also wrote From a Jack to a King, which had a West End run in 1992, and in 1983 there was You’ll Never Walk Alone for the Liverpool Everyman.
Angela Thomas (extra material contributed by Andy Wilkin)
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