True Born Englishman: did the BBC ban this Buckingham Palace play?

Peter Barnes’ monologue about a royal footman was commissioned for radio but never broadcast until now. Director Philip Franks and others unravel its mysteryThe most celebrated set of dramatic monologues for broadcasting and theatre are Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, first performed in the 1980s. But, at around the same time, a lesser-known dramatist created another trove of solos. Peter Barnes had 14 soliloquies on BBC Radio 3 under the umbrella titles Barnes’ People and More Barnes’ People. They attracted remarkable actors, including Laurence Olivier (in his final role), Judi Dench, Alec Guinness, Alan Rickman, Janet Suzman and Jeremy Irons.Barnes wrote, though, a 15th monologue, which the BBC, in mysterious circumstances, withdrew from production in 1990. A True Born Englishman, in which a Buckingham Palace lackey recalls his career, will now have its world premiere online, performed by Adrian Scarborough, on 18 February, alongside new versions of three monologues that did go out on radio. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-02-12 13:00:44 UTC ]
News tagged with: #alan bennett #talking heads #alan rickman #jeremy irons

Other Publishing stories related to: 'True Born Englishman: did the BBC ban this Buckingham Palace play?'


BBC reveals festive literary radio line-up

An all star radio adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Anasi Boys (Headline), a reading of David Attenbourgh's memoirs and a performance of "Scrooge - The Musical" are among the literary highlights from BBC Radio for the festive period. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #neil gaiman #literary highlights #bbc radio #festive period


Faber signs McNamara's true crime book

Faber and Faber is to publish I’ll be Gone in the Dark, a debut from the late Michelle McNamara, which is described by her husband - actor and comedian Patton Oswalt - as "a true-crime narrative, a memoir and a still active mystery". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BBC launches first interactive audio story with Amazon Alexa

The BBC has launched its first interactive audio story, a sci-fi comedy called "The Inspection Chamber", available through Amazon Alexa. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon alexa


Condé Nast Bans Terry Richardson From Working With Its Magazines

The famous photographer has been blacklisted following allegations of sexual harassment and assault. The post Condé Nast Bans Terry Richardson From Working With Its Magazines appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #magazines appeared #sexual harassment


Frankfurt Book Fair: Booming Business for Trade Visitors, Reflections of German Politics Play Out

Publishers and agents report positive meetings and rights sales, and Frankfurt responds to political disputes by reaffirming its commitment to freedom of expression. The post Frankfurt Book Fair: Booming Business for Trade Visitors, Reflections of German Politics Play Out appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #booming business #trade visitors #rights sales


Hawaii judge blocks Trump's new travel ban

A federal judge in Hawaii on Tuesday issued an order blocking major parts of President Trump’s newest travel ban, suggesting it violated immigration law. The decision from U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu stops the administration’s travel restrictions nationwide before they were... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #travel ban #federal judge #president trump


Tennant to star in BBC adaptation of The Highway Rat

David Tennant will take the title role in the BBC adaptation of The Highway Rat (Scholastic) by duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david tennant #bbc adaptation #title role #axel scheffler


MacDonald returns to world of hawks in BBC documentary

The BBC will broadcast a documentary about author Helen Macdonald’s return to the world of goshawks later this month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bbc documentary


Jones scoops £15k BBC Short Story Award

Welsh writer Cynan Jones has won the £15,000 BBC National Short Story Award with BookTrust for his “tenderly devastating exploration of the body”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlists 'huge scope' of talent

The BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist has been unveiled with themes ranging from abuse, divorce, a “struggle to survive in an unforgiving world” and retribution with influences including Margaret Atwood and Ernest Hemingway. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ernest hemingway


Cambridge University and First Story unveiled as BBC short story awards partners

First Story and the University of Cambridge are the new partners of the BBC’s short story awards, replacing BookTrust, in a three-year collaboration starting in 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cambridge university


Three of Granta's Young Novelists up for BBC Short Story Award

Three of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists are shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award with BookTrust worth £15,000. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #young novelists


BBC programme will mark BL Harry Potter exhibition

The BBC will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter with “rarely seen documents from J K Rowling’s archives, revealing her magical inspirations” in the run up to the British Library’s exhibition next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20th anniversary #harry potter #british library


John Murray acquires 'true new talent' Lex Coulton

John Murray is publishing Falling Short, a "funny, uplifting, deeply moving" literary debut by "true new talent" Lex Coulton. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john murray #deeply moving


In Video Play, Facebook Offers Hundreds of Millions for Music Rights

Facebook is offering major record labels and music publishers hundreds of millions of dollars so the users of its social network can legally include songs in videos they upload, according to people familiar with the matter.The posting and viewing of video on Facebook has exploded in recent... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2017-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rights holders


Ukraine Publishing Industry’s Bad Year: Closures Amid Kiev’s Russian Book Ban

The Ukrainian ban on Russian-language book imports is seen as contributing to closures and consolidations. Surviving publishers are reported struggling. The post Ukraine Publishing Industry’s Bad Year: Closures Amid Kiev’s Russian Book Ban appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bad year


Lucky Strike: BBC hopes JK Rowling's sleuth will steal Victoria's crown

Series based on Harry Potter author’s novels written under pseudonym will face ITV’s hit period drama on Sunday nightsThe BBC is banking on JK Rowling’s magic touch in a Sunday night ratings battle between the sumptuous ITV costume drama Victoria and its own thriller, Strike, adapted from crime... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #series based #novels written #jk rowling #magic touch #crime novels


Faber's The Cry to be adapted for BBC One

Faber title The Cry by Helen FitzGerald is to be adapted into a drama series for BBC One. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #drama series


Still No Opinion, but Judge's Order Bans Distribution of 'Infringing' KinderGuides

A federal judge has signed off on a permanent injunction immediately barring Moppet Books from distributing in the U.S. any versions of its KinderGuides series held to be infringing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #federal judge


Biteback pulls 'true story' of Diana's fatal crash

Biteback has pulled a title claiming to tell the “true story” of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed's fatal crash in 1997 following "an abrupt change of mind" from Fayed's father, Mohammad Al Fayed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #princess diana #true story #fatal crash #title claiming