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| For many people there is one path to take in life. Our friend Adrian Bunting, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 47, did not see it that way. A playwright, construction manager, compere, he pursued many directions in a full life. | |
| He was born in Woolwich, south-east London, and his first acting role was in a church production of Noah's Ark. He had one line: "It's a boat!" He joked that life had come full circle with his final project, to establish the Brighton Open Air Theatre – or Boat. | He was born in Woolwich, south-east London, and his first acting role was in a church production of Noah's Ark. He had one line: "It's a boat!" He joked that life had come full circle with his final project, to establish the Brighton Open Air Theatre – or Boat. |
| After a happy childhood, he decided to study law. At his inaugural Manchester University lecture students were told to park their ideals; Adrian couldn't and, after a year, transferred to a BSc in building at Brighton polytechnic, where he made lifelong friends. He graduated in 1989 and then moved into Brighton's arts scene. A regular with the Festival Shakespeare Company and a founder of the Upstairs Theatre Company, Adrian was at his most triumphant as creator and MC of the Zincbar cabaret. | After a happy childhood, he decided to study law. At his inaugural Manchester University lecture students were told to park their ideals; Adrian couldn't and, after a year, transferred to a BSc in building at Brighton polytechnic, where he made lifelong friends. He graduated in 1989 and then moved into Brighton's arts scene. A regular with the Festival Shakespeare Company and a founder of the Upstairs Theatre Company, Adrian was at his most triumphant as creator and MC of the Zincbar cabaret. |
| The Zincbar, staged every fortnight at the Basement Club in the city, was a gloriously unpredictable crucible into which both gold and rubbish were thrown: comedians, poets and situationists alike. Adrian celebrated all, rousing the audience at the end of each act with: "Wasn't that magnificent?" With Zincbar as his brand, and new friends in tow, he branched out, notably creating the World's Smallest Theatre, a street theatre installation with performances taking place in a wooden box. | The Zincbar, staged every fortnight at the Basement Club in the city, was a gloriously unpredictable crucible into which both gold and rubbish were thrown: comedians, poets and situationists alike. Adrian celebrated all, rousing the audience at the end of each act with: "Wasn't that magnificent?" With Zincbar as his brand, and new friends in tow, he branched out, notably creating the World's Smallest Theatre, a street theatre installation with performances taking place in a wooden box. |
| He never forgot that it was good to have a trade. After the Zincbar nights, construction proved to be his passport to the world. He travelled to Brazil, project-managed builds in Tanzania and Antigua, and in 1998 worked on Njaya Lodge, a hotel on Lake Malawi, where he applied the unusual idea of constructing an environmentally friendly building from sandbags. It still stands today. | He never forgot that it was good to have a trade. After the Zincbar nights, construction proved to be his passport to the world. He travelled to Brazil, project-managed builds in Tanzania and Antigua, and in 1998 worked on Njaya Lodge, a hotel on Lake Malawi, where he applied the unusual idea of constructing an environmentally friendly building from sandbags. It still stands today. |
| In his 40s Adrian refined his theatrical philosophy. "Theatre's not film," he said. "I want the audience to be part of the show." His proudest creation, Kemble's Riot, part panto, part satire, cast the audience as rioters in a play about the Old Price Riots at Covent Garden theatre in 1809. It won best play at the Brighton festival in 2011 and rave reviews at Edinburgh the following year. | In his 40s Adrian refined his theatrical philosophy. "Theatre's not film," he said. "I want the audience to be part of the show." His proudest creation, Kemble's Riot, part panto, part satire, cast the audience as rioters in a play about the Old Price Riots at Covent Garden theatre in 1809. It won best play at the Brighton festival in 2011 and rave reviews at Edinburgh the following year. |
| Adrian was greatly loved, as shown by the enthusiasm of his friends to realise his final project, the Boat. There will be a comedy event at the Brighton Dome next month, starring Stewart Lee, Mark Thomas and Tim Vine, to raise funds for the theatre. His opinions and his laughter, ringing out of many a pub, on many a night, will be greatly missed. | Adrian was greatly loved, as shown by the enthusiasm of his friends to realise his final project, the Boat. There will be a comedy event at the Brighton Dome next month, starring Stewart Lee, Mark Thomas and Tim Vine, to raise funds for the theatre. His opinions and his laughter, ringing out of many a pub, on many a night, will be greatly missed. |
| He is survived by his parents, David and Isobelle, his sister Sue and his nieces, Olivia and Rosie. | He is survived by his parents, David and Isobelle, his sister Sue and his nieces, Olivia and Rosie. |
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