Simon Gray

Hugh Whitemore 1936-2018

We lament the loss of Hugh Whitemore, celebrated writer and dear friend, who died on 17th July. He co-adapted Simon Gray’s The Last Cigarette for the stage, working with Simon after he was diagnosed with cancer. The Last Cigarette was performed at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester and the Trafalgar Studios in 2009.

Hywel Bennett 1944-2017

We mourn the loss and remember the career of Hywel Bennett, who died on July 25th 2017. Among his many fine performances he appeared in Simon Gray’s 1967 BBC Television play Death of a Teddy Bear. He also starred in the original production of Gray’s Otherwise Engaged at the Queen’s Theatre, taking on the […]

Tim Pigott Smith: Unforgettable

It is with deep sadness that we remember the actor Tim Pigott Smith who died on 7th April 2017. Amongst his many great roles, he gave a subtle, painful and haunting performance as Geoffrey Robinson, the bewildered adult son of Dickens’s mistress Nelly Ternan in SG’s play Little Nell (2007, dir Peter Hall). Unforgettable.

In memoriam: Christopher Morahan

We lament the loss and celebrate the work of Christopher Morahan who died on the 7th April 2017. He directed SG’s works for both stage and screen—including Melon (1987) starring Alan Bates; the 1992 film of the play The Common Pursuit; the TV films Unnatural Pursuits (1993)– the film from The Early Diaries,  Old Flames (1990) and the […]

Congratulations to Chris Thompson, recipient of the 2014 Simon Gray award for his play Albion

Albion is an examination of the rise of the new far right in modern England. It is set during a karaoke night at a pub called The Albion in the East End of London, which also serves as the unofficial headquarters of the English Protection Army (EPA). As people take their turns to sing, the […]

By |October 4th, 2014|Simon Gray|0 Comments|

Rik Mayall: a great actor and a valiant man

Simon Gray on Rik Mayall
From various writings, including the diaries The Year of the Jouncer and Fat Chance, which includes an account of the 1988 production of The Common Pursuit.
Rik sometimes made me think of the Sun-King, because of the glow or aura, golden as in those icons of Louis….
So signed up were… [the actors […]

By |June 10th, 2014|Simon Gray|0 Comments|

St Aubyn joins Gray in the art of literary revenge

David Lodge on Simon Gray in his new book, Lives in Writing

By |April 24th, 2014|Simon Gray|0 Comments|

Mark Lawson writes of Gray’s “fluidity of imagination” in a great piece in the Guardian

Lawson discusses Gray’s obsession with revisions in his article reflecting on the In the Vale of Health plays at the Hampstead at the moment, and his other works. Here’s the article.

By |April 3rd, 2014|Simon Gray|0 Comments|

Lovely to hear that Quartermaine’s Terms will be performed by the Homecoming Players in Ithaca, New York later this year

Best of luck with production! Would love to hear any news you have.

By |April 3rd, 2014|Simon Gray|0 Comments|