Director and writer Adam Brace has died aged 43

It has been announced that director Adam Brace has died aged 43 following a short illness.

With a hugely successful career as a director, dramaturg and writer, Brace helmed three of the most critically lauded productions of the last year, including the five-star One Woman Show in the West End (which is now due to head to New York), Just For Us at the Menier Chocolate Factory (which is set to play on Broadway this summer) and the award-winning Age Is a Feeling at the Edinburgh Fringe and at the Soho Theatre, where he was also dramaturg and then associate director.

The venue said in a statement: “Adam was a vital part of Soho Theatre at every level, and it’s hard to imagine the company, or the work on its stages, without him. He will be missed by his many friends, colleagues and collaborators. Our thoughts and love are with them, and particularly his partner Becca, his mum and step-dad Nikki and Nigel, and his brothers Tim and Alex.”

Brace had two of his plays produced on main stages – Stovepipe, which ran at the Bush and the National Theatre, as well as They Drink It In The Congo at the Almeida.

The Rose Theatre’s artistic director Christopher Haydon tweeted: “I’m heartbroken that my dear friend Adam Brace has passed away far too young. He was a man of enormous integrity with a mischievous wit and a compassionate spirit. I’ll miss him so much. It’s so horribly unfair that he’s gone. All my love and thoughts are with Becca and his family.”

Writer Vinay Patel added: “Meeting Adam was life changing. A writer I admired who made me feel it was okay to walk away from a talent if it damaged everything else. The joy, respect and purpose he found in directing/dramaturgy was proof we all have other lives in us – heartbroken this is all we’ll have of his.”

Writer Lucy Prebble posted: “I will miss Adam Brace so much. One summer we ran into each other on the street and ended up in a drink in the sunshine through to the same time next day, setting theatre right. I always hoped whenever I arrived in a strange room he’d be there. I will still hope that.”