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Sir Peter Hall
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Peter Hall's Diaries: The Story of a Dramatic Battle (Oberon Book) Paperback – April 1, 2000

by Peter Hall (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 19
See all formats and editions
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In these intimate diaries, Hall chronicles the eight frenzied years between 1972 and 1980 when he conducted the historic move of the National Theatre from the Old Vic to the South Bank, and then triumphantly consolidated its position as the leading showcase for theatre in Britain.

With remarkable candour Hall describes his relationship with Lord Olivier; with actors Paul Scofield, Ralph Richardson, Alec Guinness, John Gielgud, Albert Finney and Peggy Ashcroft; with playwrights Harold Pinter, John Osborne, Samuel Beckett, David Hare, Peter Shaffer and Howard Brenton; and with directors John Schlesinger, John Dexter, Bill Bryden, Christopher Morahan and Jonathan Miller. In his startlingly frank, incisive style, he creates sometimes affectionate, sometimes acid portraits of his friends and enemies, of great actors in rehearsal.

In his foreword, Hall casts a critical eye over the state of British theatre today and, through a discussion of politics and the arts in the eighties and nineties, contemplates its future.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    560 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Oberon Books
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    6.49 x 1.58 x 9.83 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1840021020
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1840021028
  8. See all details
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About the Author

Peter Hall is Course Leader for BA Graphic Communication Design at Central Saint Martins, UK.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oberon Books; New edition (April 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 560 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1840021020
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1840021028
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.49 x 1.58 x 9.83 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 19

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Sir Peter Hall

Sir Peter Hall

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Deborah Miller
2.0 out of 5 stars Condition not as described.
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book is definitely not in "Very good" condition. Torn jacket, name of previous owner inside, Very used.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Great Subject, Imperfect Narrator
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2021
Some of the best evenings of my life have been spent in the National Theatre, so I was eager to learn more about the era in which the South Bank complex was built, and wonderful productions like "Amadeus" and "Bedroom Farce" were staged. Peter Hall gives a vivid picture of the behind-the-scenes drama - - the political maneuvering, the endless worrying about money, the clashes between the management and the stagehands' union, the recruitment of talented directors and writers, the coping with the press (for whom Hall clearly has scant respect). However, Hall, narrating his own story, is not particularly enjoyable company. He is given to frequent bursts of self-pity. In particular, he complains endlessly about the stress he is under as manager of the theatre, director (not only of multiple productions at the NT but also of opera at Glyndebourne, of NT plays that have moved to New York with new casts, and films), and as occasional actor and the interviewer in a tv series. It never seems to occur to him that he could reduce the pressure by saying no to some of these projects, even though that would mean giving up something that he wanted (and cutting back on his lifestyle). He reminded me of the sort of person who endlessly laments being overweight while never considering diet and exercise as a remedy ("Why do I have to give up anything? Why can't I just do everything I want to?"). Since his book is repeatedly punctuated by accounts of flights on the Concorde, elegant galas, dinners with celebrities, massive consumption of wine, luncheons with international charmers like John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, I found it hard to feel much sympathy. Hall lead a truly demanding life with lots of stress, but this seemed to me to be a case of "If you can't take the heat..."
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Top reviews from other countries

Goddie
4.0 out of 5 stars Peter Hall, the National Theatre and the plays
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
I think this is a fascinating book about the theatre in the U.K. in the 70s and early 80s. His knowledge of the playwrights’ writing and his views of the actors’ renditions is so interesting, I enjoyed it all. The problems he had to get the National Theatre established were immense.
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John A
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
Service was good but regret founnd diaries trivial and boring, even as a lover of the theatre
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