Richard Smedley was born in Nottingham and discovered an interest in theatre and theatre history as a teenager, becoming an avid reader on the subject and a member of the Society f...view moreRichard Smedley was born in Nottingham and discovered an interest in theatre and theatre history as a teenager, becoming an avid reader on the subject and a member of the Society for Theatre Research. He started to work backstage at his local theatre, and then gained a financial background with a major bank. He went on to work in every department of a busy touring date theatre, and for a while managed several theatres in London’s West End, affording him little time to pursue his hobby. Smedley returned to Nottingham and became House Manager of the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall. Now retired, he lives in a small village near Newark in north Nottinghamshire. This is his first published work.view less