My husband, Michael Tubbs, who has died aged 79, spent 40 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company as a musician and musical director.
He joined the RSC as deputy music director in 1967 and subsequently became director of music. He worked on numerous productions at three venues in Stratford-upon-Avon: the Royal Shakespeare theatre, the Other Place and the Swan. A true RSC man, he gave his heart and soul to the company.
Michael ran the music department for many years, booking players, helping composers, organising concerts and events, and performing on shows. He also looked after the vast array of equipment. In addition, he was a notable fast bowler and run-scorer for the RSC cricket team, which he captained in the 1970s.
With an encyclopedic knowledge of instruments, he was capable of re-heading a drum, programming a synthesiser, tuning a harpsichord or cutting piano rolls by hand. If the instrument needed for a production did not exist, then he would make it himself. He was an extraordinarily versatile musician, learning and playing unusual instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, the dulcimer and the theremin, although his favourite was the accordion.
After leaving the RSC in 2007, Michael acted as music director for Alison Sutcliffe’s Bridge Theatre Company in Warwick. He travelled extensively in Greece and learned to read and speak Greek, passions we both shared.
Born in Harrow, north-west London, to Roland, an accountant for a fruit importer at Covent Garden market, and Marjorie (nee Rawson), a music teacher, Michael went to Harrow school, after which he completed two years of national service as a lieutenant with the Middlesex Regiment, based predominantly in Cyprus. He gained a music degree at Corpus Christi, Cambridge, and then studied conducting at the Guildhall School of Music in London before going on to the RSC.
In addition to his work in Stratford-upon-Avon, for around 20 years Michael had yearly residencies with the RSC in Newcastle upon Tyne and also toured with them in Japan, Australia and the US. He was a witty, meticulous, passionate, intelligent and creative man who was also extremely charming.
He is survived by me and by his sister, Ann.
