The Society of London Theatre has apologised “unreservedly” after Sir Peter Hall was left out of the in memoriam section at the Olivier Awards, and dedicated an award to him in perpetuity.

Sir Peter was the founding director of the Rose Theatre in Kingston, a role he took when building work started in 2003.

He directed several productions there including Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya when the theatre opened in 2008, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Dame Judi Dench playing Titania in 2010.

A statement from the society called the omission accidental, and called the founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company a “giant of British theatre”, who is “sorely missed in the industry”.

From next year, the Olivier Award for Best Director will be renamed the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director, to recognise his “phenomenal contribution to British theatre over many decades”.

The process by which people are including in the in memoriam segment is also being reviewed.

Away from the theatre, Sir Peter was also Chancellor of Kingston University from 2000 to 2013.

In 2011 he received a diagnosis of dementia, after which he retired from public life.