Background
His father was actor Richard, Lord Attenborough (1923-2014), his mother was actress Sheila, Lady Attenborough (1922-2016) and his uncle is Sir David Attenborough (since 1926).
His father was actor Richard, Lord Attenborough (1923-2014), his mother was actress Sheila, Lady Attenborough (1922-2016) and his uncle is Sir David Attenborough (since 1926).
Attenborough was educated at Westminster School and at the University of Sussex.
He is the recipient of two honorary doctorates, one from the University of Leicester and one from the University of Sussex, where he is also Honorary Professor of English and Drama. He was Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre in London between 2002-2013. He was Resident Director and Principal Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1990 to 2002.
He continues to be an Honorary Associate Artist of the Royal Society of Chemistry . In 2012 Attenborough was presented with the Award for Excellence in International Theatre by The International Theatre Institute In October of that year he announced that he would step down from the Almeida in April 2013 to concentrate on his directing career.
Recently he has directed Macbeth for the Queensland Theatre Company, Brisbane, Australia (March - April 2014) As You Like lieutenant for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, District of Columbia (2014), a United Kingdom national tour of J. B. Priestley"s Dangerous Corner in 2014 and a new play by Deborah Bruce (Godchild) in October - November 2013 at the Hampstead Theatre. Most recently he directed a new play by Rebecca Gilman (Luna Gale) for the Hampstead Theatre and Someone To Watch Over Maine by Frank McGuinness for the Chichester Festival Theatre.
In September 2015, he directed Someone Who"ll Watch Over Maine for the Chichester Festival Theatre. He is represented by United Agents, London.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to theatre.
He is the recipient of Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Leicester and Sussex, where he is also Honorary Professor of English and Drama.