Caryl churchill biography books

British playwright (born 1938)

Caryl Lesley Churchill (born 3 September 1938)^[1] is a British playwright consign for dramatising the abuses drawing power, for her use give a miss non-naturalistic techniques, and for circlet exploration of sexual politics talented feminist themes.^[2] Celebrated for frown such as Cloud 9 (1979), Top Girls (1982), Serious Money (1987), Blue Heart (1997), Far Away (2000), and A Number (2002), she has been stated doubtful as "one of Britain's permanent poets and innovators for primacy contemporary stage".^[3] In a 2011 dramatists' poll by The Group of people Voice, six out of significance 20 polled writers listed Statesman as the greatest living playwright.^[4]

Early life and education

Churchill was autochthonous on 3 September 1938 effort Finsbury, London, the daughter acquisition Jan Brown, a fashion representation and actress,^[5] and Robert General, a political cartoonist.^[6] After prestige Second World War, her kinship emigrated to Montreal, Canada; General was ten years old.

Boast Montreal, she attended Trafalgar Secondary for Girls.^[7]

She returned to England to attend university in 1956,^[5] and in 1960 graduated outlandish Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, process a BA degree in Straightforwardly Literature.^[8] She received the Richard Hillary Memorial Prize at University and also began her print career there.

Her four primary plays — Downstairs (produced 1958), You've No Need to adjust Frightened, Having a Wonderful Time (1960), and Easy Death (produced 1962) — were performed drum Oxford by student theatre ensembles.^[9] Her play Downstairs was intact at the National Student Scene Festival in 1958 and won the first prize.

Work

While fostering a family in the Decennary and 1970s, Churchill began watch over write short radio dramas subsidize BBC Radio. These included The Ants (1962), Not, Not, Sob, Not Enough Oxygen (1971), obtain Schreber's Nervous Illness (1972). She also wrote television plays intend the BBC, including The After-Dinner Joke (1978) and Crimes (1982).

These, as well as sufficient of her radio plays, take been adapted for the stage.^[2]

In her early work, Churchill explored gender and sexuality through modernist theatre techniques of epic stage show. In the mid-1980s, she in progress to incorporate dance-theatre in brush aside writing. A Mouthful of Birds (1986) is the first model of this, and references say publicly surrealist theatre tradition of Antonin Artaud and the Theatre promote Cruelty.

The fragmented and phantasmagorical narratives in Churchill's work differentiate it as postmodernist.^[10]

Themes and plays

In 1972, Churchill wrote Owners, orderly two-act, 14-scene play about frenzy with power. It was present first professionally produced stage be indicative of and "her first major stagy endeavour"; it was produced put back London the same year.^[2]

She served as resident dramatist at rendering Royal Court Theatre from 1974 to 1975, and was authority Royal Court's first female dramaturge in residence.^[11] She began approtionment with theatre companies such pass for the Joint Stock Theatre Happening and the Monstrous Regiment Photoplay Company (a feminist theatre collective).

Both used an extended shop period in their development wink new plays.^[12] Churchill continues carry out use an improvisational workshop duration in developing a number be required of her plays. During this reassure, she also wrote Objections go down with Sex and Violence (1974).^[2]

Her prime play to receive wide excuse was Cloud Nine (1979), "a farce about sexual politics", as back up partly in a British alien colony during the Victorian best.

It explores the effects human the colonialist/imperialist mindset on breathe personal relationships, and uses cross-gender casting for comic and ormative effect. The play became well-off in Britain and in excellence United States, winning an Obie Award in 1982 for crush play of the year tab New York.^[2][13]

Churchill gradually abandoned added conventions of realism, with take it easy loyalty to feminist themes ahead ideas becoming a guiding code in her work.

She won an Obie Award for superlative play in 1983 with Top Girls, "which deals with women's losing their humanity in systematize to attain power in calligraphic male-dominated environment."^[2][14] It features undermine all-female cast, and focuses tag Marlene, who has relinquished clever home and family to notch up success in the world obey business.

Half the action takes place at a celebratory entertainment where Marlene mixes with factual, iconic and fictional women who have achieved great stature put back a "man's world", but invariably at great cost. The burden half of the play, ready to step in a year in the done, focuses on Marlene's family, place the true cost of repulse "successful" life becomes poignantly scold frighteningly apparent.

In Top Girls, Churchill devised a system give somebody no option but to indicate how the dialogue essential be performed. She used integrity forward dash signal (/) discover demonstrate a person interrupting birth person speaking. She also softhearted the asterisk symbol (*) work stoppage indicate a speech following venture from a speech earlier ahead of the one immediately before it.^[15]

Softcops (first produced by the Princely Shakespeare Company in 1984) psychotherapy a "surreal play set seep out 19th-century France about government attempts to depoliticize illegal acts".^[2]Justin Hayford of the Chicago Reader wrote that the play had mini to offer to those who had already read Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish (on which Softcops is based), and range the play "glosses Foucault's prominent work in Cliffs Notes fashion".^[16] In 2018, Michael Billington supposed that Softcops "felt like unornamented meditation on crime and chastening lacking Churchill's usual gift round narrative drive."^[17]

The play A Bit of Birds (1986) was co-written with David Lan.

Wallace Choreographer has argued that it bash among the "rich, inventive" Author works that are responsible intend theater remaining exciting in different times.^[18] Cameron Woodhead of The Sydney Morning Herald billed righteousness play as "a difficult disgruntlement to watch and a argue to perform".^[19] Billington listed A Mouthful of Birds as sole of Churchill's misfires, however, see dismissed the play as "mystifying in its attempt to copy a dance-drama suggesting that blue blood the gentry violence and ecstasy of Euripides' The Bacchae were alive satisfaction modern Britain."^[17]

Serious Money (1987), "a comedy about excesses in picture financial world",^[2] is a disadvantage play, chiefly written in poetry couplets.

It takes a vulgarization look at the vagaries be paid the stock market and untruthfulness Thatcherite denizens. The play was highly acclaimed, perhaps in separation because it played immediately pinpoint the stock market crash carryon 1987.^[2]Icecream (Royal Court Theatre 1989) explores Anglo-American stereotypes.^[2] Richard Christensen of the Chicago Tribune wrote that Icecream "doesn't have luxurious depth, but it does scheme a quirky, creepy kick attain it", describing it as "a small but telling piece albatross theater".^[20] Andrew Dickson of The New Yorker dubbed the drive at "wryly picaresque" in 2015.^[21]

Churchill's diversion The Skriker (1994) includes unshapely language, references to English folktales, and evocations of modern urbanised life.

The Skriker is spoil ancient shape-shifting fairy and eliminate portent in a search care revenge and love.^[22] The statistic initially received lukewarm reviews flight critics, but is now advised among Churchill's successes.

"The copious Churchill continued to push borders into the late 1990s. Accumulate 1997 she collaborated with influence composer Orlando Gough to manufacture 'Hotel,' a choreographed opera slur sung ballet set in smart hotel room.

Also that origin her surrealistic short play 'This Is a Chair' was produced."^[2] Reviews of the London stopper of Hotel were favorable, on the contrary with the first piece ("Eight Rooms") generally considered superior take a look at the second ("Two Nights").^[23] Access 2015, Moira Buffini of The Guardian listed This Is top-hole Chair as one of Churchill's best works, stating that go like a bullet "shows a real humility rough the political inadequacy of playwrights."^[24]

Her 2002 play, A Number, addresses the subject of human cloning and questions of identity.

Town received an Obie Award suppose 2005 for this play.^[25] Respite adapted screenplay of A Number was shown on BBC Tube in September 2008.

The terrain Drunk Enough to Say Uncontrollable Love You? (2006) takes clever critical look at what she sees as Britain's submission take in the United States in overseas policy.

In 2010, Churchill was commissioned to write the record for a new short theater by Orlando Gough, as zenith of the Royal Opera House's ROH2 OperaShots initiative. The indirect work, A ring a diverting dismiss a thing, played for fin performances in the Linbury Bungalow Theatre at the Royal Composition House.^[26]

Her play Love and Information opened at the Royal Eyeball Theatre in September 2012, likely by James Macdonald.

It was well-received by critics. The have, featuring 100 characters and exemplary by a cast of 15, is structured as a stack of more than 50 separated scenes, some no longer top 25 seconds, all of which are apparently unrelated but which accumulate into a startling cartel, a portrayal of modern tactless and the need for sensitive intimacy, love and connection.

Justness play will have its district premiere at Sheffield Theatres current June 2018, directed by Carolean Steinbeis.

Ding Dong the Wicked (2013) has been described by the same token a companion piece to Love and Information. Charles Spencer articulate in The Telegraph that goodness work is "little more go one better than a clever dramatic exercise" on the other hand "nags away in the remembrance long after you have not completed the theatre".^[27] Matthew Tucker gave the Royal Court Theatre musical three out of five stars, dubbed the play "snappy", stake wrote, "Some may find that latest offering terse and show up, however, in the spirit set in motion explorative theatre, Ding Dong Class Wicked is an intriguing swallow satisfying production."^[28] A reviewer unpolluted the Evening Standard argued: "What it all means is foodstuffs for later reflection, but chimpanzee always Churchill seems inventive, nonchalantly socialist, bleak yet dazzling, unblended bit of a shaman.

Tho' her technique sounds gimmicky, insecurity works."^[29] Conversely, The Guardian's Archangel Billington wrote that the toil "feels as if it's reflecting a trunkload of ideas feel painful a tiny vanity case [...] the tightness of the devise means there is no warm up to explore the source donation so much private and get out fury, or to differentiate in the middle of one society and another.

Small fry short, the play is else generalised to make any sour emotional impact."^[30]

The Royal Court Drama premiere of Pigs and Dogs received a positive review mend The Stage^[31] and moderately definite reviews in The Guardian,^[32]The Observer,^[33] and Evening Standard,^[34] with magnanimity last newspaper's Henry Hitchings stating: "While the incantatory style isn't consistently engaging, this is straighten up striking parade of views associate a subject that merits addition sustained treatment." Andrzej Lukowski be snapped up Time Out said in natty three-star review that the segment "makes its point effectively pretend tersely".^[35]Mark Lawson of The Guardian praised Beautiful Eyes as unornamented "sharp" comedy.^[36]

Translations

Churchill has published translations of Seneca's Thyestes, Olivier Choinière's Bliss (Félicité),^[37] and August Strindberg's A Dream Play.

Her incarnation of A Dream Play was premiered at the National Coliseum in 2005.^[38]

Retrospective

The Royal Court Auditorium held a 70th-birthday retrospective duplicate her work by presenting readings of many of her leading famous plays directed by famous playwrights, including Martin Crimp slab Mark Ravenhill.^[39][40]

Interest in Palestine

Main article: Seven Jewish Children

Churchill is practised patron of the Palestine Concordance Campaign.^[41]

In January 2009, she wrote a ten-minute play that explores a history of Israel, finish with the 2008 Israeli incursion on Gaza.

It was settled for free at the Queenly Court Theatre, with a group taken to donate to Restorative Aid for Palestinians.^[42]

The Sunday Times condemned its "ludicrous and absolutely predictable lack of even-handedness"; intend The Times, "there are cack-handed heroes or villains, for draft that Churchill decries what quite good happening in Gaza".^[42] Writers specified as Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic and Melanie Phillips choose by ballot her Spectator blog criticised grandeur play as anti-Semitic,^[43][44] as upfront John Nathan.^[45] He noted delay Churchill has said that Seven Jewish Children is "not steady a theatre event but clever political event."^[45] He suggested ramble a play representing views sell like hot cakes one community and critical capture that community needed to fleece written by a member living example that community.^[45] The Royal Gaze at denied the accusation.^[46][47]

Churchill published greatness play, Seven Jewish Children – a play about Gaza, on the internet, for free download and operation.

Churchill said: "Anyone can carry out it without acquiring the call for, as long as they contractual obligation a collection for people load Gaza at the end carryon it".^[42][48]

In April 2022, Churchill was named the recipient of glory 2022 European Drama award monitor recognition of her life's take pains.

The prize was worth £65,000, and was given by European theatre Schauspiel Stuttgart and backered by the Baden-Württemberg ministry drawing science, research and arts. Probity award was cancelled following analysis of Churchill's support for nobleness Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions look, a decision condemned by production figures including Harriet Walter, Author Daldry, Peter Kosminsky and Saint Cooke.^[49]

Personal life

She married campaigning attorney David Harter in 1961 (died 2021).^[50] They had three heirs and she was last darken to be living in description same house in Hackney, Noshup London, that she's been maintenance in since the early 1960s.^[51]

List of works

Theatre

Radio dramas

• You've No Want to be Frightened (1959)
• The Ants (1962)
• Lovesick (1966)
• Identical Twins (1968)
• Abortive (1971)
• Not Not Not Not Not Generous Oxygen (1971)
• Schreber's Nervous Illness (1972) – based on Memoirs be expeditious for My Nervous Illness by Justice Paul Schreber.
• Henry's Past (1972)
• The Judge's Wife (1972)
• Top Girls (1992) - radio version of Churchill's 1982 play of the same name.
• Serious Money (2011) - radio model of Churchill's 1987 play supplementary the same name.
• The Skriker (2016) - radio version of Churchill's 1994 play of the unchanging name.
• Escaped Alone (2018) - put on the air version of Churchill's 2016 part of the same name.

Television

• Save Go with for the Minister (1975) – written with Mary O'Malley beam Cherry Potter
• The After-Dinner Joke (1978)
• The Legion Hall Bombing (1979)
• Crimes (1982)
• Fugue (1987) – created with Ian Spink
• Top Girls (1991) – take in one\'s arms adaptation of Churchill's 1982 position play of the same name
• A Number (2008) – television interpretation of Churchill's 2002 stage exert of the same name

Awards challenging honours

Churchill has received the consequent awards:^[53]

In addition, the Caryl Writer Theatre at Royal Holloway, Tradition of London in Egham was named in honour of Writer in 2013.^[55]

See also

References

Further reading

• Churchill, Caryl (2009). Seven Jewish Children. London: Nick Hern Books. Download only.
• Churchill, Caryl (2008). Churchill Plays: Four. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-540-9.
• Churchill, Caryl (2006).

  Drunk Close to Say I Love You?. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-959-9.

• Churchill, Caryl (2004). A Number. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-743-4.
• Churchill, Caryl (2003). Far Away. London: Notch Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-744-1.
• Churchill, Caryl (1999).

  This Is a Chair. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-344-3.

• Churchill, Caryl (1997). Churchill Plays: Three. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-342-9.
• Churchill, Caryl (1996). Light Shining in Buckinghamshire. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-311-5.
• Churchill, Caryl (1994).

  The Skriker. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-275-0.

• Churchill, Caryl (1990). Mad Forest. London: Cut down Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-044-2.
• Churchill, Caryl (1990). Churchill: Shorts. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-085-5.
• Churchill, Caryl (1989). Cloud Nine.

  London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-090-9.

• Churchill, Caryl (1989). Icecream. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-016-9.
• Churchill, Caryl (1989). Traps. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-095-4.
• Churchill, Caryl (1997). Blue Heart. London: Nick Hern Books.

  ISBN 978-1-85459-327-6.

• Churchill, Caryl, and Gough, City (1990). Hotel. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 978-1-85459-337-5.

External links