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Mary Allen
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'''Mary Allen''' (born
1951) is a British broadcaster, arts administrator and management consultant best know for controversial and turbulent period as Chief Executive of the
Royal Opera House.
Early career
Mary Allen studied English Literature at
New Hall, Cambridge New Hall College,
University of Cambridge Cambridge University, and in the early 1970s worked as an actress in
repertory theatre. Under the name "Mary Adams", she appeared in the first London production of ''
The Rocky Horror Show''. After working for private companies as a management trainer and consultant, as well as running Watermans Arts Centre in
West London, Allen worked for the
Arts Council of England rising to the position of Secretary General in
1994 just as the organisation took on the responsibility of distributing
National Lottery funds. As Secretary General Allen advised the
Royal Opera House in applying for Lottery Funds towards a major refurbishment, resulting in an exceptional grant of £78m.
The Royal Opera House
In 1997 the then Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House resigned and Allen was approached by the Chairman of the Opera House's board to see if she would take up the position. The decision was approved by
Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury Chris Smith as the responsible minister even though it breached the conditions of the Arts Council's own funding for the organisation. Although Allen took over her new post unaware how close the organisation was to
bankruptcy, she successfully steered the major refurbishment of the House. Later that year a
Select Committee investigation, led by
Gerald Kaufman Member of Parliament MP, was critical of Allen's actions leading her to offer her resignation. As the entire board of the Royal Opera House were forced to resign as well, Allen was asked to stay on, though she would stand down in 1998.
Life after the Opera House
Allen published a book, called ''A House Divided'', containing her diaries of the period that she was Chief Executive of the
Royal Opera House.
Since leaving the Opera House, Allen has presented various programmes on
BBC Radio 4, covering current events and the arts.
Allen, a friend of
Douglas Adams since
Cambridge University Cambridge, gave the eulogy at his funeral.
See also
*
Royal Opera House
*
Arts Council of Great Britain
Category:British arts administrators Allen, Mary
Category:1951 births Allen, Mary
Category:Living people Allen, Mary
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