Sir Cameron tops theatre's influentials list for 2008

CAMERON Mackintosh tops the list of the most influential people in British theatre published today.

The return of the show Oliver! and the ongoing refurbishment of his West End theatres helped him beat Lloyd Webber and keep the top spot he also held last year.

New names in the running include Judy Craymer, producer of the Abba musical and film Mamma Mia!, and actor David Tennant - despite the back injury that has wrecked his London run as Hamlet.

Michael Grandage, artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, is the highest riser, up from 13 to equal third place with the National Theatre's Nicholas Hytner.

Mr Grandage's success comes on the back of a move into the West End with classics at Wyndham's Theatre as well as at the Donmar's Covent Garden home base.

Alistair Smith, organiser of the annual list for The Stage newspaper, said that despite talk of financial crisis, it had been a "reasonably stable" year in theatre.

"Indeed, it's business as usual for most of the West End," he said.

"Where Mackintosh narrowly beats his long-term collaborator is in the amount of time and money he has lavished on refurbishing his theatres, which totals more than £35 million and is ongoing."

Sir Cameron is also mounting the new production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Rupert Goold, who directed No Man's Land with Michael Gambon and is also doing Oliver!, is the only director to make the grade without having a building to run too.