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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True colours

If the trade is to be more than the sum of its parts, it would do well to re-evaluate the image it projects of itself, says David Graham. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC relaunches Love To Read campaign at Hay

The BBC today relaunched Love to Read, a campaign that celebrates reading for pleasure, at Hay Festival.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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First look at the Potter family from upcoming play 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'

It’s been 19 years since the events of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and boy does it show. The first images of upcoming West End stage play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” written by English playwright Jack Thorne and based on a story from Thorne and “Potter” scribe J.K. Rowling,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mom's car burns after Vacaville girl plays with fire

The photo Vacaville police posted on their Facebook page was telling. Behind the car’s peeling, soot-covered exterior and its hollowed, scorched interior was a lesson for parent and child alike. “Public Service Announcement,” Vacaville announced. “As the drought continues and we head into summer,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former BBC Africa correspondent pens 'dramatic' Somalia story

Hurst Publishers has signed The Mayor of Mogadishu: The Story of Chaos and Redemption in the Ruins of Somalia by Andrew Harding, a former BBC Africa correspondent. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC’s public service remit includes recipes | Letters

The BBC has been in the publishing business, either on paper or online, for its entire 93-year history (Is it really the BBC’s role to publish free recipes for harissa spiced lamb?, 20 May). Why are the Tories suddenly intimidated by this? I thought that capitalism welcomed competition? As a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers divided on BBC online shake-up

Cookery and travel publishers are divided over whether the removal of free recipes and some travel articles from BBC websites will benefit the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC Bitesize promotion will 'kill start-ups and destroy jobs'

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[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book Is the First True Gospel-Rap Masterpiece

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[ Slate | 2016-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it

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[ The Guardian | 2016-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Radical lists primed for fair play

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[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC unveils 'unparalleled' Hay Festival presence

The BBC will give this year's Hay Festival "unparalleled coverage" across television, radio and online as part of their ongoing global partnership. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC and Netflix to co-produce Watership Down series

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[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC Worldwide invests in Curtis Brown parent company

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[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Video captures police officer playing hopscotch with homeless girl

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[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC investigation finds 8,000 library jobs lost in six years

Widespread library closures across the UK have resulted in the loss of almost 8,000 jobs in the last six years, according to a report by the BBC. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Newspaper publishers want more reporters - at the BBC's expense

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[ The Guardian | 2016-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How the BBC, Sky Sports and other UK media are using Facebook Live video

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[ Digiday | 2016-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Chilling' BBC exec's debut The Girlfriend to Pan Mac

Pan Macmillan has acquired a debut psychological thriller The Girlfriend by BBC drama development executive Michelle Frances. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Banned Books Week to Focus on Diversity

The annual celebration of the freedom to read, set this year for Sept. 25-Oct. 1, will focus on banned books written by people of color. The event will also look to examine why titles by diverse writers are so often challenged. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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