Ted Craig, the longtime artistic director of the Warehouse Theatre in Croydon, south London, has died at the age of 86. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Craig had a multifaceted career spanning television, theatre, and acting before settling permanently in Britain in 1979.

Craig began his career at the local television station GTV-9 in Melbourne, quickly advancing from the mailroom to directing a diverse range of programs that included children’s shows, current affairs, and drama. He also received recognition as an actor, winning the best supporting actor award at the Adelaide Festival of Arts in 1964. After moving to Britain, Craig worked in repertory theatre as both director and actor. He returned to Australia between 1973 and 1978 to direct the drama repertoire at the newly opened Sydney Opera House.

His London connection deepened when he assisted director Lindsay Anderson in staging a production at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. Anderson later recommended him to direct a production of "Look Back in Anger" in New York in 1980, and Craig subsequently worked with Anderson on the 1981 film "Britannia Hospital."

In 1985, Craig took over leadership of the Warehouse Theatre, which had been closed following a withdrawal of Arts Council funding. The theatre was reopened thanks to a grant from Croydon Council and the Greater London Council (GLC). Under Craig’s direction, the Warehouse staged its first production, the premiere of David Allen’s "Cheapside," starring James Bolam. The following year, in 1986, Craig launched what began as the South London Playwriting Festival; it attracted entries globally and rebranded as the International Playwriting Festival in 1994. The first winner was Kevin Hood with his play "Beached," whose subsequent work, "The Astronomer’s Garden," achieved critical success and transferred to the Royal Court Theatre.

Craig was also known for directing the "Dick Barton – Special Agent" series of musical comedies, adaptations of the BBC radio serial. The initial 1998 production was well-received and led to a revival and national tour the following year. Over the next decade, Craig directed eight sequels in the series.

The Warehouse Theatre faced ongoing financial challenges, partly due to its limited 100-seat capacity. These difficulties intensified after Croydon Council withdrew funding in 2012. The theatre’s Victorian-era building, suffering from structural issues, was ultimately demolished. Despite these setbacks, Craig founded Warehouse Phoenix, continuing his commitment to theatre production. The International Playwriting Festival ran until its 30th anniversary in 2016, with its final event held at the Ashcroft Theatre.

At the time of his death, Craig was collaborating on a production of "Haram Iran" for Theatro Ena in Cyprus. He is survived by his partner and his brother, Rob.