Ursula Canton - Biographical Theatre: Re-Presenting Real People?

Much of the material in this book is based on my PhD research, and I would like to thank the University of Sheffield and my PhD supervisor, Steve Nicholson, for their support at this stage.

If theatre studies wants to engage with the way theatre is made and received, it cannot ignore the views of those who make and see performances. I am greatly indebted to the practitioners who gave me their time to tell me about their experiences of working on the biographical performances discussed in this book (and many others I interviewed about different plays), as well as the students who participated in the interview study and audience members at Warwick Arts Centre who filled in my questionnaires.

Many other people whose views shaped this book are not cited explicitly in the text, but they were no less important and I am very grateful to all of them. Through Dee Heddon at Glasgow University I met Hannah Goddard, Sunniva Ramsay and Lisa Dawn Varty, undergraduate students from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, who offered very helpful feedback about the reader-friendliness of the text. Paola Botham and Sarah Bell, my friends and colleagues, accompanied me from my first academic conference to the publication of this book. Our interesting discussions and their insightful comments on papers, articles and chapters helped me greatly to develop my ideas about biographical theatre. As important as their academic input was, however, their friendship was invaluable. Another friend who shared the journey into academia with me is Katsura Sako, and her moral support was equally significant.

Finally, those who were closest to me, encouraged me, shared the moments of joy that followed progress and kept me sane when things did not work out were my family: my parents who gave me the same loving and unconditional support from my first attempts at holding a pen to academic research in an area and a language foreign to them; my husband for great patience and listening skills even after years of hearing about the same topic, and finally my sister whose multiple talents meant she was a great sounding board for new ideas, my most merciless critical reader, a sympathetic listener to PhD worries and even the best babysitter our daughter could have had while I finished the book.

U.C.

1925

Piscator, Erwin. In Spite of Everything. Schauspielhaus, Berlin

1935

Eliot, T.S. Murder in the Cathedral. Canterbury Cathedral

1938

Unity Theatre. Babes in the Wood. Unity Theatre

1946

Rattigan, Terence. The Winslow Boy. London

1960

Bennett, Alan et al. Beyond the Fringe. Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh

Bolt, Robert. A Man for All Seasons. Globe Theatre

1961

Osborne, John. Luther: A Play. Royal Court

1963

Arendt, Arthur. Ethiopia. Living Newspaper

Hochhut, Rolf. The Deputy (Der Stellvertreter). Freie Volksbhne, Berlin

Theatre Workshop. Oh, What a Lovely War! Theatre Royal Stratford East

1964

Kipphardt, Heiner. In the Matter of J. Oppenheimer. Hessischer Rundfunk (German Television) then Freie Volksbhne, Berlin

Shaffer, Peter. Royal Hunt of the Sun. National Theatre

1965

Weiss, Peter. The Investigation (Die Ermittlung)

1968

Bond, Edward. Early Morning. English Stage Society, Royal Court

Hampton, Christopher. Total Eclipse. Royal Court

1969

Arden, John and Margaretta DArcy. The Hero Rises Up. Institute of Contemporary Arts at the Round House, Chalk Farm

1971

Mitchell, Anthony. Tyger. National Theatre

1974

Brenton, Howard. The Churchill Play. Nottingham Playhouse

Stoppard, Tom. Travesties. RSC at Aldwych Theatre

1977

Gems, Pam. Queen Christina. RSC The Other Place

1978

Gems, Pam. Piaf. RSC The Other Place

1979

Pownall, David. An Audience Called Edouard. Greenwich Theatre

Shaffer, Peter. Amadeus. National Theatre

1981

Wertenbaker, Timberlake. New Anatomies. Womens Theatre Group at ICA

1982

Johnson, Terry. Insignificance. Royal Court

Lochhead, Liz. Blood and Ice. Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

1984

Hastings, Michael. Tom and Viv. Royal Court

1985

Holliday, Joyce. Anywhere to Anywhere. Derby Playhouse

Lochhead, Liz. Blood and Ice. Foco Theatre Company at Haymarket Theatre

1986

Bennett, Alan. Kafkas Dick. Royal Court Theatre

1987

Dear, Nick. The Art of Success. RSC The Other Place

Lochhead, Liz. Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off. Royal Lyceum Studio, Edinburgh

Whitemore, Hugh. Breaking the Code. Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

1989

Brenton, Howard. H.I.D. RSC at the Almeida

Eagleton, Terry. Saint Oscar. Field Day Theatre Company at Guildhall, Derry

Friel, Brian. Making History. Field Day Theatre Company at Guildhall, Derry

Pinnock, Winsome. A Rock in the Water. Royal Court Young Peoples Theatre

1990

Yeger, Sheila. Self Portrait. Orange Tree Richmond

1991

Yeger, Sheila. Variations on a Theme by Clara Schumann. Dartington College of Arts

1992

Bennett, Alan. The Madness of George III. National Theatre

1993

Johnson, Terry. Hysteria. Royal Court

Stoppard, Tom. Arcadia. National Theatre

1994

Norton Taylor, Richard and John McGrath. Half the Picture. Tricycle Theatre

1995

Dear, Nick. The Art of Success. RSC

1996

Gems, Pam. Marlene. Oldham Coliseum

Gems, Pam. Stanley. National Theatre

Kent, Nicolas. Srebrenica. Tricycle Theatre

Nelson, Richard. The General from America. RSC

Norton Taylor, Richard. Nuremberg. Tricycle Theatre

1997

Stoppard, Tom. The Invention of Love. National Theatre

1998

Frayn, Michael. Copenhagen. National Theatre

Hare, David. Judas Kiss. Almeida Theatre Company at Playhouse Theatre, London

Jeffrey, Stephen. The Libertine. Out of Joint at Warwick Arts Centre

Wertenbaker, Timberlake.After Darwin. Hampstead Theatre

1999

De Angelis, April. A Warwickshire Testimony. RSC The Other Place

2000

Bartlett, Neil. In Extremis

Dromgoole, Dominic. Marriage in Disguise.

Edgar, David. Albert Speer. National Theatre

2003

Blythe, Alecky. Come Out Eli. Recorded Delivery at Arcola Theatre, London

Dallmeyer, Andrew. Hello Dal. Edinburgh Festival

Foursight Theatre. Reans Girls. Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

Frayn, Michael. Democracy. National Theatre

Hare, David. The Permanent Way. Out of Joint at Theatre Royal, York

Wright, Nicholas. Vincent in Brixton. National Theatre

2004

Brittain, Victoria and Gillian Slovo. Guantanamo. Tricycle Theatre

Hare, David. Stuff Happens. National Theatre

2005

Graham, James. Alberts Boy. Finborough Theatre, London

Gupta, Tanika. Gladiator Games. Theatre Royal Stratford East and Sheffield Theatres

Linden, Sonia. Crocodile Seeking Refuge. Ice and Fire at Lyric Hammersmith

Teale, Polly. Bront. Shared Experience at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

2006

Foursight Theatre. Thatcher the Musical!