| Mary Allen |
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| 1951 births | |
| allen, mary | |
| alumni of new hall, cambridge | |
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EARLY CAREER Mary Allen studied English Literature at New Hall College , Cambridge University , and in the early 1970s worked as an actress in Repertory theatre. Under the name "Mary Adams", she appeared in the first London production of '' The Rocky Horror Show ''. After working for private companies as a management trainer and consultant, as well as running Watermans Arts Centre in West London , Allen worked for the Arts Council Of England rising to the position of Secretary General in 1994 just as the organisation took on the responsibility of distributing National Lottery funds. As Secretary General Allen advised the Royal Opera House in applying for Lottery Funds towards a major refurbishment, resulting in an exceptional grant of £78m. THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE In 1997 the then Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House resigned and Allen was approached by the Chairman of the Opera House's board to see if she would take up the position. The decision was approved by Chris Smith as the responsible minister even though it breached the conditions of the Arts Council's own funding for the organisation. Although Allen took over her new post unaware how close the organisation was to Bankruptcy , she successfully steered the major refurbishment of the House. Later that year a Select Committee investigation, led by Gerald Kaufman MP , was critical of Allen's actions leading her to offer her resignation. As the entire board of the Royal Opera House were forced to resign as well, Allen was asked to stay on, though she would stand down in 1998. LIFE AFTER THE OPERA HOUSE Allen published a book, ''A House Divided'' (ISBN 0684858657), containing her diaries of the period that she was Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House . Since leaving the Opera House, Allen has presented various programmes on BBC Radio 4 , covering current events and the arts. Allen, a friend of Douglas Adams since Cambridge , gave the eulogy at his funeral. SEE ALSO |
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