Soho Theatre has announced that Adam Brace has died after a short illness. He was 43.

As well as the projects that Brace worked on below, he worked on a number of groundbreaking, acclaimed comedy shows included Liz Kingsman's much-lauded One Woman Show. He also worked with Jessie Cave and directed all of Sh!t Theatre’s work as well as shows by Ahir Shah, Alex Edelman, Alfie Brown, Ivo Graham, Janine Harouni, Lou Sanders, Lucy Pearman and Ruby Wax. He also directed John Tothill in The Last Living Libertine, which is due to be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. Her wrote for The Mash Report, Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo (BBC) and The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV).

The Soho Theatre has issued the following statement.

"It is with deep sadness we announce that our much-loved friend, colleague and client Adam Brace died on Saturday 29th April.

Adam was a director, co-creator, dramaturg, script editor and writer. He was a unique talent of our time, working with artists all over the world across theatre, comedy and performance. With enormous range and variety, his work won many accolades and awards, though he was fiercely proud of all of his shows and the artists he worked with. He loved working with them, and everyone loved working with him.

As a playwright Adam’s canvas was large. He leaves two powerful, resonant full-length plays, STOVEPIPE (HighTide/ Bush/ National) and THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO (Almeida) both published by Faber & Faber and a short play, MIDNIGHT YOUR TIME, written for Diana Quick and HighTide, that was revived by the Donmar in 2020 as one of the highlights of ‘lock-down’ online theatre.

From 2016 he worked as Soho Theatre’s Dramaturg and then Associate Director, where he found his gear as a director and a collaborator. His creative generosity, laconic joyfulness – his ‘Braceness’ – lives on in his collaborators and their work.

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.

Adam was 43 and died after a short illness. There will be an event in his memory with further details to follow."

Adam Kay tweeted: "Such awful, shocking news. A brilliant and lovely man. Sending love and strength to all his friends and family."

Eshaan Akbar tweeted: "This is unfathomable news. Adam was an immense man. Kind, generous with his time, thoughtful and always armed with a good story. I shall miss the way his eyes lit up when I saw him in Soho Theatre and his warm embrace. This is terrible, terrible news."

Picture: Rebecca Biscuit