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{{Short description|British entrepreneur, theatre impresario, restaurateur and philanthropist}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Sally Greene
| honorific_suffix = <small>[[OBE]]</small>
| occupation         = Producer, Restaurateur
| alma_mater         = [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]
|  website            = http://sallygreeneobe.com/
}}

'''Sally Greene''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} is a British entrepreneur, theatre [[impresario]], restaurateur and philanthropist. She is known for her work in theatre and entertainment which includes the [[The Old Vic|Old Vic]] and [[Criterion Theatre|Criterion]] theatres in London’s West End, as well the famous jazz venue [[Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club|Ronnie Scott’s]]. Greene also co-produced [[Billy Elliot the Musical|Billy Elliott the Musical]] with [[Stephen Daldry]], and has worked as executive producer for multiple theatre, film and television projects through her production company Greene Light Stage. 

In 2006, Greene received an OBE for services to drama.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58196/supplement/1|title=New Years Honours - United Kingdom|date=29 December 2006|work=The London Gazette|access-date=24 May 2019|page=10}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Greene is the daughter of lawyer and amateur playwright Basil Greene.  She initially trained as an actress, before moving backstage as a stage manager.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/apr/03/theatre1|title='I'm a risk-taker, there's no doubt about it'|last=Cooke|first=Rachel|date=2005-04-03|work=The Observer|access-date=2019-05-24|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref> Greene also wrote a theatre column for Tatler in the 1980s.<ref name=":0" />

Greene attended the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]].<ref name=":1" />

== Career ==
Greene’s career in theatre began with the restoration of the [[Richmond Theatre (London)|Richmond Theatre]]. She bought the lease in 1987 before renegotiating it into a charitable trust with the local authority funding the restoration of the building.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lay-down-sally-222tjjn02s0|title=Lay down Sally|date=2006-07-09|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2019-05-24|language=en|issn=0956-1382}}</ref>

In 1992 Greene set up the Criterion Trust on a similar business plan, after which the theatre went under a complete restoration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2001/dec/03/careers.jobsadvice4|title=A hard act to follow|last=Kercher|first=John|date=2001-12-03|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-05-30|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In 1998, the Old Vic Theatre which is among Britain’s oldest theatres, was in talks for development as an alternative venue, with speculation that it might become a nightclub or bingo hall, leading to an appeal by Culture Secretary [[Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury|Chris Smith]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/125531.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} Entertainment {{!}} Old Vic theatre saved|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2019-05-24}}</ref>

Greene was instrumental in forming The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000, which enlisted figures like [[Alexander Bernstein, Baron Bernstein of Craigweil|Alex Bernstein]] and Stephen Daldry. The Trust bought the building, offering an initial payment of £1.5 million, which was later supplemented by a further £2 million to transfer the ownership from the previous owner [[Ed Mirvish]] into the charitable trust. In 1994 Greene founded Greene Light Stage, which she runs alongside CEO and Producer Rebecca Quigley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2017/joseph-smith-joins-elton-johns-theatre-company-producer/|title=Joseph Smith joins Elton John's theatre company as producer|last=Masso|first=Giverny|date=2017-02-27|website=The Stage|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-30}}</ref> The company has been involved in over 100 shows including Billy Elliott the Musical with Stephen Daldry. The show first performed at the [[Victoria Palace Theatre]], in 2005.<ref name=":1" /> In 2007 she launched Greene Light Films, which produces films and short films and made its first venture into television production in 2019.

Greene owns prominent jazz venue [[Ronnie Scott|Ronnie Scott’s]] Jazz Club in [[Soho]]. Together with philanthropist [[Michael Watt (philanthropist)|Michael Watt]], she took over from [[Pete King (saxophonist)|Pete King]] in 2005, and facilitated a complete refurbishment.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/10672134/How-Ronnie-Scotts-has-reversed-its-fortunes.html|title=How Ronnie Scott's has reversed its fortunes|last=Osborne|first=Alistair|date=2014-03-03|access-date=2019-05-24|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4f986264-305f-11de-88e3-00144feabdc0|title=A London jazz club celebrates 50 years|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-05-30}}</ref>

Greene also owns No. Fifty Cheyne, opened in 2004 as the [[Cheyne Walk]] Brasserie in Chelsea and relaunched in 2019 under the new name.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/drinking-and-dining/new-openings-sally-greenes-cheyne-walk-brasserie-reopens-no/|title=New Openings: Sally Greene's Cheyne Walk Brasserie reopens as No. Fifty Cheyne|last=Armstrong|first=Hilary|date=2019-04-08|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-05-24|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Greene was a Founding Trustee of the Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000 and holds trustee and director positions at the Criterion Theatre Trust, Greene Light Stage, [[Ronnie Scott]]’s Charitable Foundation.

== Work ==

=== Theatre ===

* [[Billy Elliot the Musical|Billy Elliot: The Musical]] (producer)

=== Film ===

* 2007 [[Ruby Blue (film)|Ruby Blue]] (executive producer)
* 2011 [[Hunky Dory (film)|Hunky Dory]] (executive producer)
* 2014 [[Desert Dancer]] (executive producer)

=== Television ===
Planned adaptation of the life of [[Joan Collins|Dame Joan]] and [[Jackie Collins]] (executive producer)


== External links ==
* {{IBDB name|475121}}
* {{IMDb name|2295434}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greene, Sally}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British women in business]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]