Shaftesbury Avenue lights to dim in honour of Richard Griffiths

A great tradition will be revived tonight when the lights dim along Shaftesbury Avenue at 7.28pm for two minutes to honour the passing of screen and stage actor Richard Griffiths OBE, who passed away on Thursday 28 March 2013.

The Wyndham’s Theatre and Savoy Theatre will also pay tribute to the actor who recently performed at both venues.

The Society of London Theatre has previously granted the honour to such leading figures in London theatre as Natasha Richardson, John Gielgud, Harold Pinter, Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier.

Griffiths was well known for his stage roles, which included performances in The Sunshine Boys, Equus, The Habit of Art and The History Boys. Screen credits included the Harry Potter films, cult classic Withnail and I, Pie in the Sky, A Kind of Living, Chariots of Fire, Private Peaceful, and Bleak House.

Tributes have poured in for the actor, including from Daniel Radcliffe, Nicholas Hytner and former History Boys Jamie Parker, Samuel Barnett, Russell Tovey and James Corden.

Mark Rubinstein, President of the Society of London Theatre, said: “The dimming of the lights on Shaftesbury Avenue and elsewhere in memory of Richard Griffiths is a fitting tribute to honour a fine actor who made such a significant and lasting contribution to our London stages.”