Stephen Sondheim Winner of the Fifth Annual Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography

Published: 8 March 2012
Reporter: Howard Loxton

Sheridan MorleyA gathering hosted by the Garrick Club on Thursday morning saw the announcement of the winner of this prize, set up by Ruth Leon, Morley's widow and oft-times collaborator, in his memory and presentations to the short-listed authors. The prize which, as Ruth reminder guests, is financed by individual donations from those who knew him or read him with delight, was set up to keep his name alive, especially in an area with which he was so much associated.

This year's judging panel, chaired by Ruth, were Simon Callow, actor, director, author and recipient of the prize last year for My Life in Pieces, Georgina Brown, theatre critic for the Mail on Sunday, and playwright and screenwriter Martin Sherman.

The judges spoke about each of the books on the short list with Martin Sherman being asked to "kick-off" with his warm comments about A Tiger's Wedding by Isla Blair (published by Julian Calder) before making the presentation to her as a short-listed author. It is "an astonishing account" as he described it, of her childhood in India and her separation from her parents when she was sent to school in England and of her days at RADA.

Georgina Brown talked about Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be: The Lionel Bart Story by David and Caroline Stafford (published by Omnibus Press), the story of the writer and composer best known for his musical Oliver! which, as she said, has an eclectic range of characters from Noël Coward to Barbara Windsor, embraces success and disaster, including, his self financed Robin Hood musical Twang! which flopped. The authors were there to receive their presentation.

Simon Callow, opening within hours in Being Shakespeare at the Trafalgar Studios, could not be there. Standing in for him was one of the trustees for the prize, author and critic Michael Arditti who spoke about James Corden's May I Have Your Attention, Please? (published by Omnibus). It may seem a bit early for such a young man to write an autobiography but this is an account of someone determined to make it and how he tried and tried again before eventually making it. James Corden was abroad so the certificate was accepted by Charlotte Knee of United Agents on his behalf.

Former publisher Christopher Sinclair-Stevenson, another trustee, associated with the prize since its inception, spoke about Tales from An Actor's Life by Steven Berkoff (published by Robson Press) giving us a sample of the compelling way in which Berkoff writes, receiving the author's high praise for his delivery of the text in the actor / director / playwright's acceptance speech.

Ruth Leon herself spoke about the final short-listed book Look, I Made A Hat by Stephen Sondheim (published by Virgin Books) which annotates his lyrics from 1981-2011 with personal and theatre history, bringing up to date his earlier Finishing the Hat. She shared with us the crucial role of a song by Sondheim in her own life. When Sheridan was trying to get her to marry him (not very successfully she said) he sent her a recording wrapped in a handwritten note saying "This is why I want to marry you". This song was "Being Alive" from Company. It won her over. Without Sondheim she told us, she would not be where she was and there would be no Sheridan Morley Prize.

Sondheim was due in London on Thursday morning and had been expected but it seemed his plane was late or he had been held up on the way. Which was a pity because Ruth announced Stephen Sondheim's Look, I Made a Hat was this year's winner. Fortunately his agent, Sara Menguc had made it, so she was there to accept the prize on his behalf.

When news of his win (which comes with a cheque for £2000 and a bottle of champagne) reached Mr Sondheim he declared "I am genunely surprised and thrilled. Recognition, liquor and cash -- what more could a writer want!"

Funds to support the prize are in need of replenishment and donations are always welcome. Details of how donations can be made are given on the prize's website http://thesheridanmorleyprize.org.

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