West End tribute to Richardson

Published on Friday 20 March 2009 19:31

THEATRES in London's West End dimmed their lights for two minutes last night, mirroring Broadway's tribute to the actress Natasha Richardson, who died after a skiing accident.

Lights at 52 major venues in the capital went down just before curtain-up, the Society of London Theatre said.

On Thursday, 45-year-old Richardson's grieving husband, Liam Neeson, watched as New York's theatre district turned down its illuminations in a mark of respect for the actress.

Her mother, the Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, and her actress sister Joely Richardson are also believed to have attended the tribute, along with well-known members of the acting fraternity including Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick.

Nica Burns, president of the Society of London Theatre, said: "This is a gesture of condolence at this sad time, and a mark of respect for Natasha Richardson and her immediate family, and for the Redgrave family as a whole, who have made such a unique contribution to British theatre."

Richardson came from one of Britain's most respected theatre families. She was the granddaughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, the niece of Lynn and Corin Redgrave, and her late father was the director Tony Richardson.