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{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}} |
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'''Cecil Philip Taylor''' (6 November 1929 – 9 December 1981)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SqQsBgAAQBAJ |
'''Cecil Philip Taylor''' (6 November 1929 – 9 December 1981)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SqQsBgAAQBAJ&dq=Cecil+Phillip+Taylor+9+December+1981&pg=PA1080 Profile of Cecil Philip Taylor]</ref> usually credited as '''C.P. Taylor''', was a Scottish playwright. He wrote almost 80 plays during his 16 years as a professional playwright, including several for radio and television. He also made a number of documentary programmes for the [[BBC]].<ref name="Quarterly">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CrxeZ-WQzwwC&q=CP+Taylor+plays&pg=PA44 |title=New Theatre Quarterly 33: Volume 9 |author1=Clive Barker |author2=Simon Trussler |page=44 |date= April 1993|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521448123 |accessdate=2017-01-08}}</ref> His plays tended to draw on his [[Jewish]] background and his Socialist Marxist viewpoint, and to be written in [[dialect]]. |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Taylor was born on 6 November 1929 in [[Glasgow]] and grew up in the Crosshill district of [[Govanhill]], in a politically radical [[Jewish]] family with strong ties to the [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour Party]].<ref name="Quarterly"/> His parents |
Taylor was born on 6 November 1929 in [[Glasgow]] and grew up in the Crosshill district of [[Govanhill]], in a politically radical [[Jewish]] family with strong ties to the [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour Party]].<ref name="Quarterly"/> His parents had emigrated from Russia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2012-10-11/culture/good-c-p-taylor-drama-nazi-germany-st-louis-actors-studio-milt-zoth/ |title=St. Louis News and Events | Riverfront Times |website=www.riverfronttimes.com |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201123122/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2012-10-11/culture/good-c-p-taylor-drama-nazi-germany-st-louis-actors-studio-milt-zoth/ |archive-date=1 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He left school at 14 and began his working life as a radio and television repairman. |
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In 1955, when he was 26, he met his first wife, Irene Diamond, in a drama group. In order for them to afford to marry, he took a job as a [[gramophone record|record]] salesman in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], the city where his mother had grown up.<ref name="Quarterly"/> He and Irene lived there, in [[Fenham]], for many years and had two children, Avram and Clare.<ref name="Longhorsley">{{cite web |url= |
In 1955, when he was 26, he met his first wife, Irene Diamond, in a drama group. In order for them to afford to marry, he took a job as a [[gramophone record|record]] salesman in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], the city where his mother had grown up.<ref name="Quarterly"/> He and Irene lived there, in [[Fenham]], for many years and had two children, Avram and Clare.<ref name="Longhorsley">{{cite web |url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/NBL/Longhorsley/Past_Present#2c |title=GENUKI: Longhorsley, Past and Present |website=www.genuki.org.uk |access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="Bookrags">{{cite book |editor1-last=Kerbel |editor1-first=Sorrel |title=Jewish Writers of the Twentieth Century |date=2003 |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn |location=New York, London |isbn=0-203-01000-0 |pages=1080–1081 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SqQsBgAAQBAJ |chapter=Taylor, C. P.}}</ref> |
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In 1967 he married Elizabeth Screen, with whom he also had two children, David and Catheryn.<ref name="Longhorsley"/><ref name="Bookrags"/> Shortly after their marriage, he and Elizabeth settled at the village of [[Longhorsley]] in Northumberland, where he lived until his death on 9 December 1981. He is buried in St. Helen's Church graveyard in the village.<ref name="Longhorsley"/> His death from [[pneumonia]] has been attributed to his habit of writing in his garden shed. |
In 1967 he married Elizabeth Screen, with whom he also had two children, David and Catheryn.<ref name="Longhorsley"/><ref name="Bookrags"/> Shortly after their marriage, he and Elizabeth settled at the village of [[Longhorsley]] in Northumberland, where he lived until his death on 9 December 1981. He is buried in St. Helen's Church graveyard in the village.<ref name="Longhorsley"/> His death from [[pneumonia]] has been attributed to his habit of writing in his garden shed. |
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==Plays== |
==Plays== |
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His first play ''Mr David'' (1954) won second prize in a playwriting competition |
His first play ''Mr David'' (1954) won second prize in a playwriting competition organized by the [[World Jewish Congress]]. Unperformed until 1966, a production was arranged by the [[Jewish Theatre, Warsaw|Jewish State Theatre]] in [[Warsaw]].<ref name="Quarterly"/> |
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''Aa Went Tae Blaydon Races'', a historical drama about a miners' strike on [[Tyneside]] in 1862, was the first play by Taylor to be premiered by a professional theatre company. It opened the new [[Flora Robson]] Theatre in Newcastle in 1962.<ref name="Quarterly"/> |
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A long relationship with the [[Traverse Theatre]] in Edinburgh began in 1965, enabling Taylor to leave his day job and concentrate on his work as a dramatist. The first play for the Traverse was ''Happy Days Are Here Again'', followed by ''Bread and Butter'' (1966), ''Lies about Vietnam'' (1969), ''The Black and White Minstrels'' (1972), ''Next Year in Tel Aviv'' (1973), ''Schippel'' (1974), ''Gynt'' (1975), ''Walter'' (1975), and ''Withdrawal Symptoms'' (1978).<ref name="Quarterly"/> |
A long relationship with the [[Traverse Theatre]] in Edinburgh began in 1965, enabling Taylor to leave his day job and concentrate on his work as a dramatist. The first play for the Traverse was ''Happy Days Are Here Again'', followed by ''Bread and Butter'' (1966), ''Lies about Vietnam'' (1969), ''The Black and White Minstrels'' (1972), ''Next Year in Tel Aviv'' (1973), ''Schippel'' (1974), ''Gynt'' (1975), ''Walter'' (1975), and ''Withdrawal Symptoms'' (1978).<ref name="Quarterly"/> |
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By the late 1970s, Taylor became increasingly involved with the [[Live Theatre Company]] in Newcastle, which premiered several of his plays, among them ''Some Enchanted Evening'' (1977), ''Bandits'' (1977), ''[[Operation Elvis]]'' (1978), ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]'' (1978) – a bitter-sweet comedy set |
By the late 1970s, Taylor became increasingly involved with the [[Live Theatre Company]] in Newcastle, which premiered several of his plays, among them ''Some Enchanted Evening'' (1977), ''Bandits'' (1977), ''[[Operation Elvis]]'' (1978), ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]'' (1978) – a bitter-sweet comedy set in wartime Tyneside – and ''The Saints Go Marching In'' (1980 – later known as ''Bring Me Sunshine, Bring Me Smiles''').<ref name="Quarterly"/> |
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In ''The Peter Pan Man'' ([[Scottish Youth Theatre]] 1978)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uc-ipc.com/members/2008/07/18/plays-directed/ |title=Archived copy |website=uc-ipc.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820044832/http://uc-ipc.com/members/2008/07/18/plays-directed/ |archive-date=20 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> he transferred [[J. M. Barrie]] |
In ''The Peter Pan Man'' ([[Scottish Youth Theatre]] 1978)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uc-ipc.com/members/2008/07/18/plays-directed/ |title=Archived copy |website=uc-ipc.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820044832/http://uc-ipc.com/members/2008/07/18/plays-directed/ |archive-date=20 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> he transferred the play by [[J. M. Barrie]] to an [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]] estate. |
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His most successful play is probably ''[[Good (play)|Good]]'' (1981), in which |
His most successful play is probably ''[[Good (play)|Good]]'' (1981), in which a liberal German Professor of German literature, Halder becomes involved with the [[Third Reich]] war machine and [[Auschwitz]] through moral cowardice and subtle corruption. Halder, however, continues to see himself as a 'good man' even as he is drawn further and further into [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s nightmare. ''Good'' was first staged by the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] at the [[Donmar Warehouse]] in September 1981, with [[Alan Howard (actor)|Alan Howard]], as Halder, winning both the [[Evening Standard Awards|Evening Standard Award]] and the ''Plays and Players'' Best Actor awards. The play is frequently revived; in March 1999, also at the Donmar Warehouse, [[Charles Dance]] played the leading role. In 2023, it was produced in London's [[Harold Pinter Theatre|Harold Pinter theatre]], with [[David Tennant]] as Halder. |
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==Film and television versions of his plays== |
==Film and television versions of his plays== |
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*In 1989, playwright [[Jack Rosenthal]] made a posthumous adaptation for television of ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]''. This [[Tyne Tees Television]] production |
*In 1989, playwright [[Jack Rosenthal]] made a posthumous adaptation for television of ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]''. This [[Tyne Tees Television]] production starred [[Joan Plowright]], [[Phyllis Logan]], [[John Woodvine]], [[Stephen Tompkinson]], and [[Tom Watt (actor)|Tom Watt]], and won a [[Prix Europa]] in 1990. |
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*In 2008, ''[[Good (film)|Good]]'' was released as a feature film, with [[Viggo Mortensen]] in the role of Halder and [[Jason Isaacs]] playing his Jewish friend Glückstein. |
*In 2008, ''[[Good (film)|Good]]'' was released as a feature film, with [[Viggo Mortensen]] in the role of Halder and [[Jason Isaacs]] playing his Jewish friend Glückstein. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [https://books.google.com/books?id=CrxeZ-WQzwwC |
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=CrxeZ-WQzwwC&dq=CP+Taylor+plays&pg=PA44 C.P. Taylor biography in the 1993 ''New Theatre Quarterly 33'' by Susen Friesner], retrieved 2010-09-07 |
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* [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/nov/06/theatre.stage Article about C.P. Taylor in ''The Guardian''], retrieved 2010-09-07 |
* [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/nov/06/theatre.stage Article about C.P. Taylor in ''The Guardian''], retrieved 2010-09-07 |
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* [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/taylor-cecil-p.html List of C.P. Taylor plays], retrieved 2010-09-07 |
* [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/taylor-cecil-p.html List of C.P. Taylor plays], retrieved 2010-09-07 |
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[[Category:People from Govanhill and Crosshill]] |
[[Category:People from Govanhill and Crosshill]] |
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[[Category:Scottish dramatists and playwrights]] |
[[Category:Scottish dramatists and playwrights]] |
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[[Category:Scottish Jews]] |
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[[Category:Scottish radio writers]] |
[[Category:Scottish radio writers]] |
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[[Category:Scottish screenwriters]] |
[[Category:Scottish screenwriters]] |
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[[Category:Scottish socialists]] |
[[Category:Scottish socialists]] |
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[[Category:Jewish dramatists and playwrights]] |
[[Category:Jewish dramatists and playwrights]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Jewish Scottish writers]] |
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[[Category:Scottish people of Russian-Jewish descent]] |
[[Category:Scottish people of Russian-Jewish descent]] |
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[[Category:20th-century |
[[Category:20th-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights]] |
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[[Category:20th-century British screenwriters]] |
[[Category:20th-century British screenwriters]] |
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[[Category:People from Longhorsley]] |
[[Category:People from Longhorsley]] |
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Latest revision as of 08:38, 11 November 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
Cecil Philip Taylor (6 November 1929 – 9 December 1981)[1] usually credited as C.P. Taylor, was a Scottish playwright. He wrote almost 80 plays during his 16 years as a professional playwright, including several for radio and television. He also made a number of documentary programmes for the BBC.[2] His plays tended to draw on his Jewish background and his Socialist Marxist viewpoint, and to be written in dialect.
Personal life
[edit]Taylor was born on 6 November 1929 in Glasgow and grew up in the Crosshill district of Govanhill, in a politically radical Jewish family with strong ties to the Labour Party.[2] His parents had emigrated from Russia.[3] He left school at 14 and began his working life as a radio and television repairman.
In 1955, when he was 26, he met his first wife, Irene Diamond, in a drama group. In order for them to afford to marry, he took a job as a record salesman in Newcastle, the city where his mother had grown up.[2] He and Irene lived there, in Fenham, for many years and had two children, Avram and Clare.[4][5]
In 1967 he married Elizabeth Screen, with whom he also had two children, David and Catheryn.[4][5] Shortly after their marriage, he and Elizabeth settled at the village of Longhorsley in Northumberland, where he lived until his death on 9 December 1981. He is buried in St. Helen's Church graveyard in the village.[4] His death from pneumonia has been attributed to his habit of writing in his garden shed.
Plays
[edit]His first play Mr David (1954) won second prize in a playwriting competition organized by the World Jewish Congress. Unperformed until 1966, a production was arranged by the Jewish State Theatre in Warsaw.[2]
Aa Went Tae Blaydon Races, a historical drama about a miners' strike on Tyneside in 1862, was the first play by Taylor to be premiered by a professional theatre company. It opened the new Flora Robson Theatre in Newcastle in 1962.[2]
A long relationship with the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh began in 1965, enabling Taylor to leave his day job and concentrate on his work as a dramatist. The first play for the Traverse was Happy Days Are Here Again, followed by Bread and Butter (1966), Lies about Vietnam (1969), The Black and White Minstrels (1972), Next Year in Tel Aviv (1973), Schippel (1974), Gynt (1975), Walter (1975), and Withdrawal Symptoms (1978).[2]
By the late 1970s, Taylor became increasingly involved with the Live Theatre Company in Newcastle, which premiered several of his plays, among them Some Enchanted Evening (1977), Bandits (1977), Operation Elvis (1978), And a Nightingale Sang (1978) – a bitter-sweet comedy set in wartime Tyneside – and The Saints Go Marching In (1980 – later known as Bring Me Sunshine, Bring Me Smiles').[2]
In The Peter Pan Man (Scottish Youth Theatre 1978)[6] he transferred the play by J. M. Barrie to an Elswick estate.
His most successful play is probably Good (1981), in which a liberal German Professor of German literature, Halder becomes involved with the Third Reich war machine and Auschwitz through moral cowardice and subtle corruption. Halder, however, continues to see himself as a 'good man' even as he is drawn further and further into Hitler's nightmare. Good was first staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Donmar Warehouse in September 1981, with Alan Howard, as Halder, winning both the Evening Standard Award and the Plays and Players Best Actor awards. The play is frequently revived; in March 1999, also at the Donmar Warehouse, Charles Dance played the leading role. In 2023, it was produced in London's Harold Pinter theatre, with David Tennant as Halder.
Film and television versions of his plays
[edit]- In 1989, playwright Jack Rosenthal made a posthumous adaptation for television of And a Nightingale Sang. This Tyne Tees Television production starred Joan Plowright, Phyllis Logan, John Woodvine, Stephen Tompkinson, and Tom Watt, and won a Prix Europa in 1990.
- In 2008, Good was released as a feature film, with Viggo Mortensen in the role of Halder and Jason Isaacs playing his Jewish friend Glückstein.
Awards
[edit]- The World Jewish Congress Playwriting Prize (1954)[5]
- Arts Council Playwright's bursary (1965)[5]
- Scottish Television Theatre Award (1969)[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Profile of Cecil Philip Taylor
- ^ a b c d e f g Clive Barker; Simon Trussler (April 1993). New Theatre Quarterly 33: Volume 9. Cambridge University Press. p. 44. ISBN 9780521448123. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ "St. Louis News and Events | Riverfront Times". www.riverfronttimes.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "GENUKI: Longhorsley, Past and Present". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Kerbel, Sorrel, ed. (2003). "Taylor, C. P.". Jewish Writers of the Twentieth Century. New York, London: Fitzroy Dearborn. pp. 1080–1081. ISBN 0-203-01000-0.
- ^ "Archived copy". uc-ipc.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Theatre Record and its annual Indexes
External links
[edit]- C.P. Taylor biography in the 1993 New Theatre Quarterly 33 by Susen Friesner, retrieved 2010-09-07
- Article about C.P. Taylor in The Guardian, retrieved 2010-09-07
- List of C.P. Taylor plays, retrieved 2010-09-07
- Review of the 1999 version of Good by CurtainUp
Categories:
- 1929 births
- 1981 deaths
- Jewish socialists
- People from Govanhill and Crosshill
- Scottish dramatists and playwrights
- Scottish radio writers
- Scottish screenwriters
- Scottish socialists
- Jewish dramatists and playwrights
- Jewish Scottish writers
- Scottish people of Russian-Jewish descent
- 20th-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights
- 20th-century British screenwriters
- People from Longhorsley