Subtitled The Several Lives and Theatrical Legacy of Stephen Joseph is Terry Lane’s first biography. The book is an examination of intrigue – matrimonial, institutional, even political. It eschews the academic approach and is a lively and funny popular biography.
In racing terms Stephen Joseph often claimed to have been – “Out of Gingold by Maschwitz.” La Gingold, (Hermione) was his mother but his father was actually the publisher Michael Joseph. Eric Maschwitz was merely the co-respondent who became Head of Light Entertainment at the BBC and Hermione’s second husband. The book charts Joseph's tempestuous childhood, his school, drama college and wartime careers (twice decorated), and his role in the renaissance of the post-war Cambridge Footlights.
He was a teacher, writer, lectured on playwriting and was later Lecturer in the new Drama Department of Manchester University. In his role as director of his Studio Theatre Company he was a major catalyst for theatrical experiment in the second half of the twentieth century. He championed new writing in the theatre, was the first person to stage the works of Robert Bolt, Colin Wilson and championed his own stable of writers such as David Campton, Mike Stott, Richard Gill, and most notably the now, Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
The book presents an overview of theatre the century before Joseph began his company and indicates trends in the half-century since his death. In Joseph’s own words:
In racing terms Stephen Joseph often claimed to have been – “Out of Gingold by Maschwitz.” La Gingold, (Hermione) was his mother but his father was actually the publisher Michael Joseph. Eric Maschwitz was merely the co-respondent who became Head of Light Entertainment at the BBC and Hermione’s second husband. The book charts Joseph's tempestuous childhood, his school, drama college and wartime careers (twice decorated), and his role in the renaissance of the post-war Cambridge Footlights.
He was a teacher, writer, lectured on playwriting and was later Lecturer in the new Drama Department of Manchester University. In his role as director of his Studio Theatre Company he was a major catalyst for theatrical experiment in the second half of the twentieth century. He championed new writing in the theatre, was the first person to stage the works of Robert Bolt, Colin Wilson and championed his own stable of writers such as David Campton, Mike Stott, Richard Gill, and most notably the now, Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
The book presents an overview of theatre the century before Joseph began his company and indicates trends in the half-century since his death. In Joseph’s own words:
"If, when mankind finally disintegrates, whoever created him has been
stimulated and amused. Mankind will have accomplished something"
stimulated and amused. Mankind will have accomplished something"
The book is a personal narrative of a life working in the theatre leading to, and detailing, how one of the world’s leading experimental theatres came into being.
It’s genesis is illustrated by press-cuttings, photographs, minutes itemising the formation of the original club’s committee, and describes some of the hyperbole which surrounded the theatre’s first year of existence.
On our journey towards the formation of the theatre we meet any number of other people starting out also, Sheila Hancock, Donald Sutherland, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Sir Tony Robinson, Roger Rees, Michael Codron, OBE.
It’s genesis is illustrated by press-cuttings, photographs, minutes itemising the formation of the original club’s committee, and describes some of the hyperbole which surrounded the theatre’s first year of existence.
On our journey towards the formation of the theatre we meet any number of other people starting out also, Sheila Hancock, Donald Sutherland, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Sir Tony Robinson, Roger Rees, Michael Codron, OBE.