John Irving Wardle (20 July 1929 – 23 February 2023) was an English theatre critic and author. He wrote about theatre for The Observer from 1959 to 1963, for The Times from 1963 to 1989, and for The Independent on Sunday from 1989 to 1995.
Irving Wardle
Wardle in 2010
Born
John Irving Wardle (1929-07-20)20 July 1929 Manchester, England
Wardle's early appointments included an anonymous fortnightly review spot on the Bolton Evening News, beginning in 1958.[4] He worked as a sub-editor on The Times Literary Supplement, as deputy theatre critic (to Kenneth Tynan) on The Observer,[4] from 1959 to 1963, as drama critic for The Times from 1963 to 1989,[5][6] editor of Gambit[7] 1973 to 1975, and as theatre columnist for The Independent on Sunday from 1990 to 1995, when his position was eliminated amid financial cuts.[1][8] Thereafter, he worked as a freelancer, and his later writing appeared in magazines such as Prospect and The Oldie.[1][9]
He published two books; a biography The Theatres of George Devine[10] (Jonathan Cape, 1978) and Theatre Criticism (Routledge, 1992).[11] His first play, The Houseboy, was performed at the Open Space Theatre in 1973.[12] The play is semi-autobiographical, based on Wardle's experience from a part-time job washing dishes at a London guest house. The production was directed by Charles Marowitz and the cast included Timothy West. A television production was made for ITV's Playhouse season and screened on 3 July 1982, directed by Christopher Hodson. The cast was Stephen Garlick, Geoffrey Palmer, Richard Pasco and Earl Rhodes.[13]
Personal life
Wardle's first two marriages, to Joan Notkin in 1958 and to Fay Crowder in 1963, both ended in divorce.[1] He and Crowder had two children.[1] In 1975, Wardle married Elizabeth Grist. They had two children and remained together until his death on 23 February 2023, at the age of 93.[1]
Wardle was a close friend of Harold Pinter, for whose work he coined the phrase "comedies of menace".[14] The two met after Wardle reviewed Pinter's The Birthday Party in 1958, and an impressed Pinter wrote to compliment him on his critical sensibility.[4]
Awards
He was honoured in 2004 at the Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre.[15][16]
References
^ abcdefCoveney, Michael (28 February 2023). "Irving Wardle obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
^Who's Who in the Theatre, 17th edition, Gale (1981)
^"Obituary:Charles Hodgson". The Times. London. 18 January 2007.
irving, wardle, john, july, 1929, february, 2023, english, theatre, critic, author, wrote, about, theatre, observer, from, 1959, 1963, times, from, 1963, 1989, independent, sunday, from, 1989, 1995, wardle, 2010bornjohn, 1929, july, 1929manchester, englanddied. John Irving Wardle 20 July 1929 23 February 2023 was an English theatre critic and author He wrote about theatre for The Observer from 1959 to 1963 for The Times from 1963 to 1989 and for The Independent on Sunday from 1989 to 1995 Irving WardleWardle in 2010BornJohn Irving Wardle 1929 07 20 20 July 1929Manchester EnglandDied23 February 2023 2023 02 23 aged 93 OccupationTheatre criticAlma materWadham College OxfordRoyal College of MusicSpouseJoan Notkin m 1958 divorced wbr Fay Vivian Crowder m 1963 divorced wbr Elizabeth Grist m 1975 wbr Children4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Work 3 Personal life 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditWardle was born on 20 July 1929 in Manchester Lancashire the son of John Wardle and his wife Nellie Partington His father was an actor who became a drama critic on the Bolton Evening News 1 Wardle was educated at Bolton School Wadham College Oxford and the Royal College of Music 2 While at Oxford Wardle participated in theatre performing in a production of The Tempest alongside the actors Nigel Davenport and Jack May the future directors John Schlesinger and Bill Gaskill and Mary Moore the future principal of St Hilda s College Oxford 3 Work EditWardle s early appointments included an anonymous fortnightly review spot on the Bolton Evening News beginning in 1958 4 He worked as a sub editor on The Times Literary Supplement as deputy theatre critic to Kenneth Tynan on The Observer 4 from 1959 to 1963 as drama critic for The Times from 1963 to 1989 5 6 editor of Gambit 7 1973 to 1975 and as theatre columnist for The Independent on Sunday from 1990 to 1995 when his position was eliminated amid financial cuts 1 8 Thereafter he worked as a freelancer and his later writing appeared in magazines such as Prospect and The Oldie 1 9 He published two books a biography The Theatres of George Devine 10 Jonathan Cape 1978 and Theatre Criticism Routledge 1992 11 His first play The Houseboy was performed at the Open Space Theatre in 1973 12 The play is semi autobiographical based on Wardle s experience from a part time job washing dishes at a London guest house The production was directed by Charles Marowitz and the cast included Timothy West A television production was made for ITV s Playhouse season and screened on 3 July 1982 directed by Christopher Hodson The cast was Stephen Garlick Geoffrey Palmer Richard Pasco and Earl Rhodes 13 Personal life EditWardle s first two marriages to Joan Notkin in 1958 and to Fay Crowder in 1963 both ended in divorce 1 He and Crowder had two children 1 In 1975 Wardle married Elizabeth Grist They had two children and remained together until his death on 23 February 2023 at the age of 93 1 Wardle was a close friend of Harold Pinter for whose work he coined the phrase comedies of menace 14 The two met after Wardle reviewed Pinter s The Birthday Party in 1958 and an impressed Pinter wrote to compliment him on his critical sensibility 4 Awards EditHe was honoured in 2004 at the Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre 15 16 References Edit a b c d e f Coveney Michael 28 February 2023 Irving Wardle obituary The Guardian Retrieved 28 February 2023 Who s Who in the Theatre 17th edition Gale 1981 Obituary Charles Hodgson The Times London 18 January 2007 a b c Wardle Irving Autumn 2009 Old friends Intelligent Life Coveney Michael 30 October 2005 Voices Off The Guardian London Osborne faces punch up Montreal Gazette 23 June 1966 Woolland Brian 2003 Jonsonians living traditions Ashgate p 1 ISBN 0 7546 0610 4 Cassidy Suzanne 5 November 1991 Miller play divides the critics in London The New York Times Wardle Irving December 1998 Late night in Lviv Prospect 36 The Chicago Conspiracy Swans June 2008 Wardle Irving 1992 Theatre Criticism Taylor amp Francis ISBN 0 415 03181 8 Young Toby 2 March 2008 Nicholas de Jongh sets himself up for a dramatic fall Independent on Sunday London ITV PLAYHOUSE The HOUSEBOY British Film Institute Archived from the original on 25 January 2009 Retrieved 9 March 2010 Harold Pinter The Guardian London 12 June 2008 Selaiha Nehad 16 22 September 2004 Back on the merry go round Al Ahram No 708 Archived from the original on 8 August 2009 Retrieved 9 March 2010 Selaiha Nehad 23 29 September 2004 What to expect of CIFET 2004 Al Ahram No 709 Archived from the original on 27 July 2009 Retrieved 9 March 2010 External links EditIrving Wardle Collection at the Harry Ransom Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irving Wardle amp oldid 1142167306, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
