John Sichel

(1937 - 2005)

John Sichel (21 September 1937 - 5 April 2005) was a French-English theatre director. Early in his career, Sichel was sought by Sir Laurence Olivier to direct the National Theatre Company in the award-winning film adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters (1970) with Olivier, Joan Plowright, and Alan Bates. He then went on to direct Olivier in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (1976) and Alec Guinness and Ralph Richardson in Twelfth Night (1970). His experience as a commissioner and director of drama and drama-documentaries enabled him to work with some of the world's finest actors including Derek Jacobi, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery and Michael Caine. He has also worked as a director and trainer at several of the UK's leading theatres and institutions including the Young Vic, Guildhall School of Drama, RADA, Shaw Theatre, Italia Conti, London Film School, Edinburgh Festival. For the latter part of his career, he established ARTTS Skillcentre, a training facility supporting artists in employment with the film and television industry.