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

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Publishers are playing around with games again

Ten years ago, publishers all piled into games as an easy way to increase their digital revenues. Five years ago, a number of them experimented with them as storytelling tools, using games to get their readers to think about the news in a novel way. Today, everyone from Hearst to the Washington... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Anna Rafferty leaves Pottermore for BBC Worldwide

Anna Rafferty is leaving Pottermore to join the BBC Worldwide as its director of digital marketing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC eyes vertical ads to boost mobile monetization

The BBC has joined the growing throng of publishers to embrace vertical video on its mobile apps. And it plans to monetize its international app with vertical video ads. The format, made popular due to Snapchat, is becoming a larger part of other publisher video plans including The Sun, Mail... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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McDermid, Cornwell, Hawkins star in BBC documentary Serial Killers

The BBC is airing a new documentary on BBC One tonight (29th November) about women who write crime fiction, featuring prominent crime writers Val McDermid, Patricia Cornwell, Martina Cole, husband-and-wife author team Nicci French, Sarah Phelps and Paula Hawkins in interview with presenter Alan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sopel's title about 'strange' America to BBC Books

BBC Books has acquired new title about modern America in the wake of the US election, by BBC North America editor Jon Sopel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Between the sheets: Banned books censors didn't want you to read

The books struck out by the censors for being 'damaging to young minds', too political or simply too sexy. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2016-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC shines light on 'inspiring' Virago women

Virago has been praised as "brave" and "inspiring" from people in the trade after a BBC documentary traced the history of the women's publisher from its early-1970s roots to the present day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AMC's 'Comic Book Men' spotlights Geppi's Entertainment Museum as a place where dreams can come true

Here's televised proof that a visit to Baltimore's Geppi’s Entertainment Museum can fulfill a comic-book fan’s dearest fantasy: Sunday’s Season 6 premiere of the AMC show “Comic Book Men,” spotlighting the continuing adventures of writer-director-comic geek Kevin Smith and the staff at his Jay... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2016-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Springsteen Plays Well Abroad

Bruce Springsteen’s memoir, Born to Run, was an immediate hit when it was released at the end of September in the U.S. by Simon & Schuster, and the book topped the nonfiction bestseller list in Germany and Sweden at the end of last month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Springsteen's 'Born to Run' Bosses Bestseller List

Bruce Springsteen's memoir sold more than 117,000 print copies in its first week on sale, making it the top selling title for the week ended October 2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC Radio 1's Cairney to speak at Reading Agency event

BBC Radio 1 presenter Gemma Cairney is going to be speaking in conversation with The Reading Agency at The British Library next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut author Orr wins BBC National Short Story Award

Debut British author K J Orr has beaten off competition from Booker Prize-winning Hilary Mantel to win the £15,000 BBC National Short Story Award with BookTrust for 2016. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Diverse' BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist revealed

Five young writers aged 14-19 are shortlisted for this year’s BBC Young Writers’ Award. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Raising the Barr: 'the roles publishers play are largely invisible to readers'

The new PA president Stephen Barr outlines his priorities in an interview with Benedicte Page. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Industry Notes: PEN America on Banning Books in the USA

PEN America's new report asserts that 'diverse books' frequently are the first to be yanked when it comes to book challenges and 'soft censorship.' The post International Industry Notes: PEN America on Banning Books in the USA appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Save a Life—Support a Banned Book

Almost universally, books in America are challenged because they tackle difficult subjects, writes author I.W. Gregorio. "Police brutality. Coming out. Drug use. Issues of gender identity. Disability. Gun violence. Suicide." But books—particularly those that delve into tough topics, save lives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon Sweetman: Baby, I was born to read Bruce Springsteen's memoir

OPINION: I start more books than I finish now – as is the way of the working parent, the overzealous music fan, a keen reader with eyes bigger than my, erm, mind… Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Texas Prisons Banned My Book About Texas Prisoners

Banned Book Week, which started on Sunday, reminds us that no one sets out to write a banned book. But as long as speech threatens those in power, censorship, even in a country that espouses one of the most expansive free-speech regimes in the world, remains inevitable. Given that book banning... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Banned Book Week Gets Diverse

Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read that shines a light on censorship of reading material in the United States, has begun. This year, the event focuses on diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Latest Ukrainian Ban of Russian Book Imports Under Consideration

Reports say the ban proposed to Ukraine's parliament members would require a book from Russia to have permission from a special public commission to be imported. The post Latest Ukrainian Ban of Russian Book Imports Under Consideration appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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