Theatre
Harwood, Ronald (12 of 18) An Oral History of Theatre Design
- Add a note
Log in to add a note at the bottom of this page.
- All notes
- My notes
- Hide notes
- Add to playlist
Log in to add this item to one of your personal lists.
- Add to favourites
Log in to add and display this item in your personal list of favourites on the right hand side of this page.
The British Library Board acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors to this recording and the rights of those not identified.
Legal and ethical usage »
Type
sound
Duration
00:27:54
Shelf mark
C1173/02
Recording date
2005-10-27, 2007-05-16, 2007-05-17, 2007-05-18, 2007-06-12
Recording locations
Interviewee's home, Chelsea
Interviewees
Harwood, Ronald 1934- (speaker, male)
Interviewers
O'Ryan, Lydia (speaker, female)
Abstract
Part 12: RH comments on his chain smoking, also on recent excellent annual medical report. Comments on motivation for writing, refers to HP and Alun Owen [AO]. Comments on first real financial success in 1980s with “The Dresser”; his unwillingness to analyse self and NH’s great faith. RH’s reluctance to write for theatre during 1960s; comments on English class system, The Royal Court Theatre and critics’ need for anti –authoritarian plays. RH’s eventual return to theatre in 1970s with plays for Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester [REM] with ME and CW. Comments on RH’s own writing technique – importance of telling the story; detailed quote from E M Forster. Refers to Sir Walter Scott and Harold Robbins. Description of RH’s early work including “The Barber of Stanford Hill” filmed for British Lion and “Private Potter”for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM]. Description of working on Italian screenplays in Italy with Mario Monocelli, Valerio Zerlina and Suzocecchi D’Amico in 1960s. Remarks on coping with early financial insecurity. Description of three children, Anthony, [AnH], Deborah [DH] and Alexandra [AlH]; details of their birth and early education (mentions Froebel Institute, Roehampton, now Ibstock). Also move to Liss, Hampshire and their day attendance at Bedales. Remarks on AlH’s experience of bullying, her musical career, including Royal College of Music, Juilliard School, New York and teaching at St. Paul’s Boys, London. Refers to AnH work as Literary Agent and DH’s early career in this field and recent pursuit of degree in Textile Art and Winchester University. ( RH remarks on building worker). Comment on RH’s fulfilled marriage and AnH’s speech at recent 70th birthday celebration. Remarks on influence of Rebecca West and GG; also admiration for Evelyn Waugh. Comments on fascination of certain subject matter, including Performance, the Holocaust, Apartheid. Refers to first novel “All the Same Shadows” and positive review by Muriel Spark. Mentions “Taking Sides” about conductor Furtwangler. Quotes from Chekhov. Remarks on representation of women in own work, including “Another Time” with Janet Suzman and Albert Finney [AF] at Wyndham’s theatre; mentions run in Chicago at Steppenwolf theatre. Remarks on central tenet of this play. [Tape 7 Sides A-B closed until September 2042]
Description
Interview with Ronald Harwood (1934-), theatre designer. Parts 1-4 comprise an interview about the life and work of Richard Negri, as recalled by Ronald Harwood. Parts 5-18 comprise Ronald Harwood's life story.
Metadata record: