A book about the creation and history of the National Theatre in London, as told by
Richard Pilbrow who was part of it all
A book about the creation and history of the National Theatre in London, as told by
Richard Pilbrow who was part of it all
The until-now untold story of the creation of Britain’s National Theatre – building and company – told by someone who was there for all of it. This is a book eight years – plus a lifetime – in the making!
The National Theatre in London is a remarkable thing: a unique building housing an amazing theatre company. This book – A Sense of Theatre – tells the untold story of the creation of the National Theatre, building and company, from the unique perspective of someone who was there for all of it, lighting designer and theatre consultant Richard PIlbrow.
With over 500 pages and hundreds of photos, illustrations and sketches, never before has the story of the National been documented so thoroughly in one place.
You’ll enjoy this book if:
In the mid-1950s, a young man called Richard Pilbrow decided to make his life in the newly-establishing profession of lighting design. He formed a company called Theatre Projects, renting lighting equipment to productions he designed. This put Richard at the centre of British theatre at a remarkable time. He got a phone call from Laurence Olivier, asking him to help out with lighting at the newly formed Chichester Festival Theatre. From there, in 1963, Olivier asked him to become the lighting designer for the newly formed National Theatre company. That led to his playing a key role in the creation of the National’s new home.
This book is full of interviews and accounts from many who have been part of the National’s history:
Directors: Stephen Daldry, the late Howard Davies, Frank Dunlop, Marianne Elliott, Richard Eyre, Michael Grandage, Giles Havergal, Michael Blakemore and Rufus Norris
Performers: Dame Judi Dench, Simon Russell Beale, Alex Jennings, Diana Quick, and Mark Rylance
Designers: Paul Arditti, Neil Austin, Bunny Christie, Jon Clark, Paule Constable, Bob Crowley, William Dudley, Rick Fisher, Tim Haley, David Hersey, Ian MacNeil, Vicki Mortimer, Peter Mumford, Rae Smith, Mark Thompson and Anthony Ward.
Hear some of the characters come to life by clicking below:
The compete e Index, Photo Credits and End Notes. are available here, to give you an idea of what’s in the book, or to let you search or reference information as you read the book.
A Sense of Theatre has been shortlisted for the Society for Theatre Research’s Theatre Book of the Year Prize, the winner to be announced on June 11th.