Seven-time Olivier winner William Dudley died May 31, after a protracted battle with Alzheimer's. He was 78.

Mr. Dudley was one of the most prolific designers in the English theatre. Known for his boundary-pushing innovative stagecraft, he brought an architectural grandeur to his designs that immediately differentiated him from the designers of previous generations. Mr. Dudley eschewed the traditional painted drops and ornate furniture to instead favor more conceptual designs with multifunctional pieces and raw materials that invited audiences to use their imagination.

Like many British designers, Mr. Dudley did not limit himself to one design medium. While primarily known as a scenic designer, he often provided costume designs as well, crafting the full visual vocabulary of a piece. In his later years, he experimented widely with the use of video and screen design, continuing to push the boundaries of technological innovation.

Educated at Saint Martin's School of Art and the Slade School of Art, Mr. Dudley was a premiere member of the Society of British Theatre Designers. His number of career designs numbers in the thousands, bringing him seven Olivier wins, a BAFTA, and even the coveted royalist seal of approval in the form of a 2021 OBE from Queen Elizabeth II.

Highlights of Mr. Dudley's career include Undiscovered Country, The Mysteries and The Critics, The Futurists, Kafka's Dick, Merry Wives of Windsor, Heartbreak House, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Amadeus, The London Cuckolds, All My Sons, The Coast of Utopia, Lenny, Hitchcock Blonde, Titus Andronicus, The Woman in White, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Beggar's Opera, and many, many more.

While his work was focused on London, he did occasionally design for Broadway, usually when a London production crossed the pond. His Broadway credits included Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (starring Kathleen Turner), Amadeus, The Woman in White, and End of the Rainbow.

Mr. Dudley is survived by his wife, director Lucy Bailey, and their sons, Ollie and Billy.