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James Saunders (playwright)

January 01, 1970

James Saunders (8 January 1925 – 29 January 2004) was a prolific English playwright born in Islington, London. His early plays led to him being considered one of the leading British exponents of the Theatre of the Absurd.[1]

Personal life edit

He was educated at Wembley County Grammar School, which now forms part of Alperton Community School and Southampton University. He married Audrey Cross.

Plays edit

His play Next Time I'll Sing To You, written in 1962, was staged in the West End starring Michael Caine, Barry Foster and Liz Fraser, at the New Arts and the Criterion Theatre in 1963. It gained him the 1963 Evening Standard award (with Charles Wood) for "Most Promising Playwright". The play was also produced in New York the same year.

In 1975 he completed John Vanbrugh's four-act fragment, A Journey to London, a play that had been sentimentalised by Colley Cibber in 1728 as The Provoked Husband. Saunders' version was first staged in Greenwich and successfully revived at the Orange Tree Theatre in 1986.

Bodies, commissioned and first staged by Sam Walters at the Orange Tree in 1977, was revived by Robin Lefévre at the Hampstead Theatre in February 1978, and given a West End transfer in April 1979, starring Dinsdale Landen, Gwen Watford, David Burke and Angela Down.

Television edit

Saunders' television work included Watch Me I'm a Bird (1964), and the BBC sitcom Bloomers (1979), starring Richard Beckinsale (in the year that he died) playing an unsuccessful actor working in a flower shop. Beckinsale's co-star was Anna Calder-Marshall.

Works edit

Stage plays include:

  • Moonshine (1955)
  • The Ark (1959)
  • A Slight Accident (one-act 1961)
  • Double Double (1962)
  • Next Time I'll Sing To You (1962)
  • Who was Hilary Maconochie? (one-act 1963)
  • A Scent of Flowers (1966)
  • The Travails of Sancho Panza (1969)
  • Games (one-act 1970)
  • After Liverpool (one-act 1970)
  • Hans Kolhaus (1972)
  • A Journey to London (co-author, 1975)
  • The Island (1976)
  • Bodies (1977)
  • Over the Wall (one-act 1977)
  • Random Moments in a May Garden (1980)
  • Retreat (1995)

Sources edit

  • Who's Who in the Theatre 14th Jubilee Edition, ed Freda Gaye, Pitman (1967)
  • Who's Who in the Theatre 17th edition, ed Ian Herbert, Gale (Vols 1 and 2, 1981) ISBN 0-8103-0234-9
  • Theatre Record and its annual Indexes
  • Halliwell's Television Companion by Leslie Halliwell and Philip Purser, Grafton Books (1986) ISBN 0-246-12838-0

References edit

  1. ^ Penguin Plays – Absurd Drama (intro), Martin Esslin, Penguin Books (1965) ISBN 0-14-048058-7

External links edit

  • James Saunders – English playwright at www.jamessaunders.org
  • The James Saunders Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
  • James Saunders' English bibliography
  • BBC Radio Plays by James Saunders
  • James Saunders at IMDb

January 01, 1970
james, saunders, playwright, james, saunders, january, 1925, january, 2004, prolific, english, playwright, born, islington, london, early, plays, being, considered, leading, british, exponents, theatre, absurd, contents, personal, life, plays, television, work. James Saunders 8 January 1925 29 January 2004 was a prolific English playwright born in Islington London His early plays led to him being considered one of the leading British exponents of the Theatre of the Absurd 1 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Plays 3 Television 4 Works 5 Sources 6 References 7 External linksPersonal life editHe was educated at Wembley County Grammar School which now forms part of Alperton Community School and Southampton University He married Audrey Cross Plays editHis play Next Time I ll Sing To You written in 1962 was staged in the West End starring Michael Caine Barry Foster and Liz Fraser at the New Arts and the Criterion Theatre in 1963 It gained him the 1963 Evening Standard award with Charles Wood for Most Promising Playwright The play was also produced in New York the same year In 1975 he completed John Vanbrugh s four act fragment A Journey to London a play that had been sentimentalised by Colley Cibber in 1728 as The Provoked Husband Saunders version was first staged in Greenwich and successfully revived at the Orange Tree Theatre in 1986 Bodies commissioned and first staged by Sam Walters at the Orange Tree in 1977 was revived by Robin Lefevre at the Hampstead Theatre in February 1978 and given a West End transfer in April 1979 starring Dinsdale Landen Gwen Watford David Burke and Angela Down Television editSaunders television work included Watch Me I m a Bird 1964 and the BBC sitcom Bloomers 1979 starring Richard Beckinsale in the year that he died playing an unsuccessful actor working in a flower shop Beckinsale s co star was Anna Calder Marshall Works editStage plays include Moonshine 1955 The Ark 1959 A Slight Accident one act 1961 Double Double 1962 Next Time I ll Sing To You 1962 Who was Hilary Maconochie one act 1963 A Scent of Flowers 1966 The Travails of Sancho Panza 1969 Games one act 1970 After Liverpool one act 1970 Hans Kolhaus 1972 A Journey to London co author 1975 The Island 1976 Bodies 1977 Over the Wall one act 1977 Random Moments in a May Garden 1980 Retreat 1995 Sources editWho s Who in the Theatre 14th Jubilee Edition ed Freda Gaye Pitman 1967 Who s Who in the Theatre 17th edition ed Ian Herbert Gale Vols 1 and 2 1981 ISBN 0 8103 0234 9 Theatre Record and its annual Indexes Halliwell s Television Companion by Leslie Halliwell and Philip Purser Grafton Books 1986 ISBN 0 246 12838 0References edit Penguin Plays Absurd Drama intro Martin Esslin Penguin Books 1965 ISBN 0 14 048058 7External links editJames Saunders English playwright at www jamessaunders org The James Saunders Papers at the Harry Ransom Center James Saunders English bibliography BBC Radio Plays by James Saunders James Saunders at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Saunders playwright amp oldid 1146393121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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