Sally Greene

Sally Greene is an entrepreneur in the fields of entertainment and the arts, best recognised for her activities in theatre, but also known for her work in hospitality. She is the owner of the world-famous jazz club Ronnie Scott’s and founder of production company Greene Light Stage.

Greene began her career by purchasing the lease of the Richmond Theatre in 1986. Since then her career has been linked to the performing arts. In 1998, she saved The Old Vic Theatre from closure due to financial difficulties and reinjected it with new life. Today, The Old Vic is one of the best known theatres in the United Kingdom and the world. In addition to the Richmond Theatre and The Old Vic, she has also been involved in the restoration of the Criterion Theatre in 1992.

Her work in theatre extends to the operations of Greene Light Stage, an independent commercial producer, which she established in 1994. The company’s contribution has been recognised globally, most notably with the production of Billy Elliott the Musical, which opened at the West End’s Royal Victoria Theatre and ran there for an impressive 11 years, while also having very successful runs in Australia and the United States and winning a record-breaking ten Tony Awards in 2008. Since establishment, the company has produced, co-produced or managed over 100 shows. In 2007, Sally Greene established Green Light Films, as an expansion into the film industry. It is known for a number of films including the short film Player and the feature film Hunky Dory.

Beyond theatre, Sally Greene has also been very involved in hospitality and entertainment. She is the proprietor of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. Today it is one of the world’s most renowned jazz clubs, representing many big names throughout its history, from Miles Davis to Kurt Elling. Greene also opened the Cheyne Walk Brasserie in Chelsea in 2004.

Sally Greene has also dedicated significant efforts towards aiding and promoting a range of charitable causes. Many of these are focused specifically on youth and education in the arts. Notably, she is a trustee of the London Music Fund, Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation, the Criterion Theatre Trust and the Old Vic Theatre Trust. Moreover, she has been a patron for the HighTide Theatre Festival and Pop-up Ltd. She has also been closely involved with the NSPCC, notably the FULL STOP campaign and the establishment of a partnership with the ENO, as well as with Elton John’s AIDS Foundation.