David MacLennan (theatre practitioner)

David MacLennan (19 June 1948 - 13 June 2014), was a Scottish actor, director, producer and writer.

David MacLennan
Born(1948-06-19)19 June 1948
Scotland
Died13 June 2014(2014-06-13) (aged 65)
Scotland
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer and writer
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
Children1
Parent(s)Sir Hector MacLennan (father)
Isabel Margaret (mother)

Early and personal life

MacLennan was born on 19 June 1948 to Isabel Margaret (née Adam), a doctor and public health activist, and Sir Hector MacLennan, a renowned gynaecologist and obstetrician. He was the youngest of four children, including his brother Robert Maclennan, a Liberal Democrat life peer, and sister Elizabeth MacLennan, an actor with whom he would work throughout his life. Growing up, Jimmy Logan was a neighbour and influence. MacLennan went to Drumtochty Preparatory School, and Fettes College in Edinburgh, before attending University of Edinburgh without taking a degree.[1] His first marriage, to Ferelith Lean, was later dissolved. In 1988 he married again, to the actress Juliet Cadzow. They had one son, Shane.

Career
Main article: 7:84

MacLennan co-founded the Scottish left-wing agitprop theatre group 7:84 in 1971, with his sister Elizabeth and her husband John McGrath. In 1978 he created the influential Wildcat Stage Productions (with Dave Anderson) and worked with these two companies for most of his life.[2][3][4]

In 2004, MacLennan created A Play, a Pie and a Pint at the Òran Mór in Glasgow; a lunchtime theatre concept which has since been implemented around the world.[5] A documentary about this work by BBC Two Scotland (titled A Play, a Pie and a Pint: Scotland's Theatre Revolution) was announced on the day of MacLennan's death.[6]

Death

In 2013, MacLennan was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, dying in hospital in Glasgow the following year, aged 65.[1][6]

References
  1. Coveney, David (15 June 2014). "David MacLennan". TheGuardian.com.
  2. Tom Maguire, University of Ulster at Coleraine (30 April 2000). "Still Cool for Cats? The Life and Times of Wildcat Stage Productions". International Journal of Scottish Theatre. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  3. "Obituary - David MacLennan: Co-founder and guiding light of the Wildcat Company". The Independent. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  4. "Wildcat Stage Productions collection". The University of Glasgow. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  5. "Glasgow's A Play, a Pie and a Pint: a tasty idea". The Guardian. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  6. "Leading Scottish theatre figure David MacLennan dies". BBC News. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
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