My friend Oliver Neville, who has died aged 91, was principal of Rada, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, in London, for nearly a decade. He had started his life in the theatre as a scene painter before acting in regional theatre.
Oliver was born in Birmingham, to Frederick Neville, a schoolteacher, and his wife, Ethel (nee Baird). He was brought up in Hampshire and attended Price’s school in Fareham. Following national service, spent largely defusing landmines in Egypt, Oliver pursued his goal of becoming a director. He wrote to Reggie Leefe at Stratford Memorial Theatre, and in 1949 went to study theatre design there.
In 1951 he took a walk-on part in Tamburlaine at the Old Vic, with Donald Wolfit in the title role. A decade of acting work followed in repertory and on tour overseas, with roles including Peer Gynt, and Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons.
In 1958 he returned to the Old Vic, playing Claudius in Hamlet and Warwick in Henry VI. Under Michael Benthall’s stewardship he then worked as assistant director at the Old Vic, eventually directing his own productions of Macbeth and The Tempest, with Alastair Sim, in 1962.
The following year he took over as director of the Manchester Library theatre and ran innovative programmes with close-knit companies. In 1966 he moved to the Ipswich arts theatre, where he expanded its work with the community.
At the age of 40, in 1969 he set about studying for an English degree: he sat A-levels and went to King’s College, Cambridge, graduating with a first. He continued his work on Ben Jonson to study for a PhD. His supervisor, Muriel Bradbrook, became a close friend.
He then taught English at Bedford College, University of London, and drama at Bristol University.
In 1984 he was invited to become the principal at Rada, where he brought his varied expertise to bear not only on the students’ training, but also their welfare, improving the buildings at the Gower Street base and introducing a joint MA with King’s College London to facilitate fairer student funding.
Ill health forced his retirement in 1993, but Oliver retained a keen interest in his students, many of whom kept in contact with him at his home in Bristol. He enjoyed gardening, reading extensively and pursuing his passion for medieval churches.
Oliver’s first marriage, to Shirley Hall, ended in divorce. In 1964 he married the actor Pat Heywood. She survives him, along with his son, Edward, and daughter, Sarah, from his first marriage.
