Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson (1921–1980) was an Irish theatre director.

Simpson was born in Dublin, Ireland and was the son of Walter Simpson, a Church of Ireland clergyman. He was called up to the army in 1941. In 1945 he transferred onto the army reserve and joined the Gate Theatre, Dublin as stage manager.

Career In 1953 Simpson co-founded the Pike Theatre along with his wife Carolyn Swift. On November 19, 1954, Simpson staged the first ever production of The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan, In 1957 he staged Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo during the first International Dublin Theatre Festival. Despite being hugely successful and receiving positive reviews from both Irish and English critics, and was incarcerated for one night at Bridewell. and eventually led to the closure of the Pike theatre in 1960. He also staged in several musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973 and Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat at the Gaiety Theatre. He then married Irish actress, Eileen Colgan. Simpson and Colgan remained together until his death in 1980.