Never Apologise: from the Lindsay Anderson archive

The University of Stirling’s 2023 Culture on Campus exhibition celebrates the life and work of one of the most distinctive British filmmakers of the twentieth century. Born in Bangalore, India, in 1923 Lindsay Anderson reflected British life and society through the lens of a series of remarkable films including This Sporting Life (1963), If…. (1969) and O Lucky Man! (1972). Anderson’s contribution to British cultural life extended to his work as a film critic, author and theatre director. He was part of the generation that transformed the post-war cultural and artistic world in the 1950s and 1960s.  

Never Apologise marks the centenary of Anderson’s birth by opening up the extensive collection of his personal and working papers held in the University of Stirling Archives. It presents an archival journey through Anderson’s filmmaking career tracing the documentary grit, Hollywood glamour and critical struggles of a life lived behind the camera. The exhibition features fresh new insights into Anderson’s life and work through contributions from actors, artists, academics and curators. These personal responses to Anderson and his archive include memories of working with the director, favourite scenes from his films, overlooked aspects of his career and archival discoveries, all illustrated with previously unseen documents and photographs from a unique cinematic collection. 

Aspects of Anderson:

If you would like to contribute an aspect of Anderson to this collection please contact us at archives@stir.ac.uk

A physical version of the exhibition is on display in the Macrobert Arts Centre from 23 January to 21 May 2023.

Culture on Campus is a collaboration between the Art Collection, University Archives and the Macrobert Arts Centre which aims to develop a creative environment where creative thinking and creative acts are at the heart of our identity as a place of learning.