THE FORMER artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company has been knighted in the New Year’s Honours List.
The 65-year-old, whose term as artistic director emeritus came to an end on New Year’s Eve, was recognised for services to the arts.
Sir Gregory said: I am delighted to have received this honour. Shakespeare has been a passport through my life, and I have been privileged to be able to spend so much of career working with the very greatest company dedicated to his work, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and sharing his genius with as many as possible around the world.”
He was with the RSC for 36 years, starting his career as an actor before becoming a director. He became the company’s associate director in 1996 and worked closely with the RSC’s previous artistic director, the late Sir Michael Boyd.
Sir Gregory took over from Sir Michael as artistic director in 2013, before stepping down in 2022, when he became the company’s artistic director emeritus.
His husband Sir Antony, the celebrated actor Sir Antony Sher, passed away from cancer in 2021.
Sir Gregory’s many achievements during his time with the RSC included directing Shakespeare Live! to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death in 2016.
* Major General Julian Buczacki, who grew up in Stratford and who attended Warwick School, received a CBE. He is currently Assistant Chief of Defence Staff responsible for military strategy.
* Martin Dymock Harrison, from Leamington was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in his home town.
