John Sumner (director)

John Sumner
CBE, AO
John Sumner CBE, AO
Born	John Hackman Sumner; 27 May 1924; England
Died	24 May 2013 (aged 88); Melbourne, Australia
Education	National Opera Studio
Occupations	Director; producer; theatre founder; artistic director; theatre manager; costume designer; set manager; author; administrator;
Years active	1947–1987
Known for	Manager and stage director at H.M. Tennent Theatres; Manager of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust 1952-1955; Founder and director of the Melbourne Theatre Company 1953–1955, 1959–1987;
Spouse	Patsy King (m. 1959; div. 1967)
Awards	Helpmann Award

John Hackman Sumner (27 May 1924 – 24 May 2013) was an English and Australian theatre director, producer and impresario. He was the founder and artistic director of the Melbourne Theatre Company in Australia, gathering a group of later internationally famous stars including Ray Lawler, Zoe Caldwell, Barry Humphries and Fred Parslow.