He ran the National Youth Theatre from 1987 to 2004. He had such passion. So many of us back then at the theatre – Daniel Craig, Matt Lucas, David Walliams – worked with Ed. He was a major influence on my life, my artistic pursuits, not only in theatre but my life around it, too.
I was [at the National Youth Theatre] for three summers before going to drama school at 19. I kept in contact with Ed until he died in 2008. He always came to see the shows I did. There was a sense of being part of a wider artistic community and tradition, which was empowering and exciting.
He was very formidable, impassioned and engaging – an extraordinary person to have met and worked with.
