Roland Muldoon is a playwright, director and cultural activist whose work has shaped alternative theatre and comedy in Britain for over five decades. Born in Surrey in 1941, he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before co-founding the radical touring company CAST (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre) in the 1960s.

Working alongside Claire Muldoon, he developed a distinctive, politically engaged performance style - fast, funny, and rooted in working-class experience - taking theatre into clubs, community spaces and festivals. CAST’s influence extended into the creation of the “New Variety” movement, nurturing a generation of performers and reshaping the UK’s comedy landscape.

In 1986, Muldoon led the campaign to rescue and reopen Hackney Empire, transforming a threatened building into a thriving, inclusive venue. Under his leadership, it became a vital platform for emerging artists and a cornerstone of East London’s cultural life.

Since leaving the Empire in 2005, he has continued to write, produce and mentor through New Variety initiatives, championing accessible, socially engaged performance. Muldoon’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to popular theatre that speaks directly to its communities - bold, questioning, and open to all.