Lindsay, a classical scholar educated at Wadham College, Oxford, hails from Bangalore, India, but was raised in England, where he attended Cheltenham College. He then embarked on a three-year stint in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps during wartime.
Following his military service, Lindsay ventured into the world of theatre, initially at the Royal Court in the late 1950s. During this period, he was instrumental in premiering several notable productions, including The Long and the Short and the Tall, Sergeant Musgrave's Dance, Billy Liar, and The Bed Before Yesterday.
Lindsay's creative partnership with David Storey began with the film This Sporting Life, and they went on to collaborate on several plays, including In Celebration, Home, The Changing Room, Early Days, and Stages, which was Lindsay's last contribution to the world of theatre, released in 1992.
In addition to his work in the theatre, Lindsay was a prolific writer and contributed to several prominent newspapers, including The Times, The Observer, and The New Statesman.