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Dateline:
23rd March, 2005
Theatre Book Prize Shortlist
The Theatre Book Prize is awarded annually by the Society for Theatre
Research for the book which is, in the opinion of the judges, the best
book in English, published in the relevant year, of original research
into any aspect of the history and technique of the British theatre,
but not restricted only to authors of British nationality nor to books
solely from British publishers. The prize is worth £400.
The judges for books published in 2004 are Professor Elizabeth Schafer
(Royal Holloway, University of London), critic Charles Spencer (The
Daily Telegraph), and actor and dramatist Oliver Ford Davis.
The shortlisted works are:
- Arguments with England by Michael Blakemore (Faber &
Faber)
- The Cambridge History of British Theatre edited by Peter
Thomson, Jane Milling, Joseph Donohue & Baz Kershaw (Cambridge
University Press)
- Happiness Indeed: An Actor's Life by Denis Quilley (Oberon
Books)
- Inside the Royal Shakespeare Company by Colin Chambers (Routledge)
- Margot Fonteyn by Meredith Daneman (Penguin/Viking)
- Secret Dreams: The Biography of Michael Redgrave by Alan
Strachan (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
In 2004 an exceptionally large number of theatre related books were
announced - over 90 titles, ranging from popular biographies to weighty
academic tomes, books about and by actors, dancers, singers and directors,
books about theatres and theatre making, books on panto, opera, dance,
marionettes, from Irish fit-ups to the National Theatre and the RSC.
Not all fitted the prize criteria, some have been delayed and some that
might have stood a chance were not entered by their publishers. The
judges still had to consider nearly 60 titles: more than any previous
year.
- In Arguments with England Michael Blakemore, respected director
of classic and modern and plays from those of Chekov and O'Neill to
David Hare, traces his career from its Australian beginning work for
Robert Morley, through RADA and early acting years to his first West
End success as director.
- The Cambridge History of British Theatre is a major 3-volume
undertaking that both presents an overview of British theatre history
and through individual essays focuses on particular aspects of its
story. General Editor Peter Thomson was shortlisted in 2000 and was
a judge for the prize in 2001.
- Happiness Indeed is the autobiography of the late much-loved
actor Denis Quilley whose career ranged from early years in repertory
to leads in West-End musicals and at the National Theatre.
- Inside the Royal Shakespeare Company by Colin Chambers,
winner of the prize in 1997, investigates four decades of the artistic
and business management of the RSC, looking at its working methods,
people and politics in what has often been a fight for cultural survival.
- Meredith Daneman, herself a former dancer at Covent Garden and
widow of actor Paul Daneman, has produced a definite biography in
Margot Fonteyn, tracing the great ballerina private and working
life that shows the real person behind the legend.
- Secret Dreams by Alan Strachan, is another searching autobiography
that explores both the professional accomplishment of a great actor
and his personal life, including an examination of his bisexuality.
The winner will be announced on 15th April
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