Clare Venables

Clare Rosamund Venables (17 March 1943 – 17 October 2003) was an English theatre director. She was artistic director of regional theatres in Lincoln, Stratford East (London), and Sheffield; she became Director of Education at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and she also directed a number of operas.

Early life She was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, to Sir Peter Venables, first vice-chancellor of the University of Aston and a founder of the Open University, and Ethel Howell, an educational psychologist who chaired the Marriage Guidance Council.

She was educated at Manchester High School and Camp Hill School, Birmingham.

From 1981 to 1992, she was artistic director at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield,

She contributed articles to Theatre Quarterly (1980), Plays and Players (1987) and Changes (1988).

Personal life On 27 May 1971 she married the actor Robert Whelan; they separated in 1982. Their son, Joe, was born on 6 October 1978.

She died of breast cancer aged 60.