Internationally famous for launching the careers of Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Paul Schofield and Peter Brook, the Birmingham Rep has been one of the most consistently innovative and important of the English regional producing theatres since it was foundation by Sir Barry Jackson in 1913. This book covers the 40 years since its founder's death in 1961, beginning in the era which started the careers of Derek Jacobi, Brian Cox and Michael Gambon. Charting the move from the 450-seat Old Rep into the 900-seat 'city's theatre' in 1971, Claire Cochrane tells the often turbulent, sometimes controversial study of how a major company with a great past sought to create exciting contemporary theatre for an increasingly demanding and multicultural audience. Set in Britain's second city, the Rep's story reflects the changing and challenging landscape of modern British theatre as a whole.