David Bradby
Encyclopedia
Professor David Bradby was a drama and theatre academic with particular research interests in French
theatre, Modernist / Postmodernist theatre, the role of the director and the Theatre of the Absurd
. He wrote extensively on the theatre of Samuel Beckett
, Roger Planchon
, Jacques Lecoq
, Arthur Adamov
among many others. He also translated several works, principally by Michel Vinaver
, Jacques Lecoq
and Bernard-Marie Koltes
.
and originally studied Modern Languages at Trinity College, Oxford
, but started to develop an interest in the theatre. During his time as a language assistant in Lyon
, Bradby became a bit-part actor in Roger Planchon’s theatre company.
Bradby’s subsequent education saw him taking a postgraduate teaching course at the University of Bristol
, and then a PhD on the playwright Arthur Adamov
at the University of Glasgow
.
His academic career included the founding of the Department of Drama at the University of Kent
in 1970, as well as work with the British Council
in Nigeria
. Bradby developed the first colloqium on popular film and theatre, featuring contributions from the British theatre director, Max Stafford-Clark
. David Bradby was appointed head of the Department of Drama at the University of Caen, Normandy before moving to Royal Holloway, University of London
in 1988, where he also took the position of department head. He retired in Summer 2007.
Bradby edited the Cambridge University Press
‘Studies in Modern Drama’ series, as well as the journal Contemporary Theatre Review.
He was Professor Emeritus of Drama and Theatre at Royal Holloway. David Bradby give many public lectures and broadcasts; he has also been a consultant and advisor to many productions of works by Jean Genet
, Molière
, Michel Vinaver
and Bernard-Marie Koltes
.
In 1997, he was made a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in recognition of his contribution to the study of French culture.
Bradby was married to the Author Rachel Anderson and died on 17 January 2011.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
theatre, Modernist / Postmodernist theatre, the role of the director and the Theatre of the Absurd
Theatre of the Absurd
The Theatre of the Absurd is a designation for particular plays of absurdist fiction, written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, as well as to the style of theatre which has evolved from their work...
. He wrote extensively on the theatre of Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
, Roger Planchon
Roger Planchon
Roger Planchon , was a French playwright, director, filmmaker.-Biography:...
, Jacques Lecoq
Jacques Lecoq
Jacques Pierre Lecoq born in Paris, was a French actor, mime and acting instructor.He is most famous for his methods on physical theatre, movement and mime that he taught at the school he founded in Paris, L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq from 1956 until his death in...
, Arthur Adamov
Arthur Adamov
Arthur Adamov was a playwright, one of the foremost exponents of the Theatre of the Absurd.Adamov was born in Kislovodsk in Russia to a wealthy Armenian family, which lost its wealth in 1917...
among many others. He also translated several works, principally by Michel Vinaver
Michel Vinaver
-Works:* Les Coréens * Iphigénie Hotel * A la renverse * 11 septembre 2001 / 11 September 2001 -References:...
, Jacques Lecoq
Jacques Lecoq
Jacques Pierre Lecoq born in Paris, was a French actor, mime and acting instructor.He is most famous for his methods on physical theatre, movement and mime that he taught at the school he founded in Paris, L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq from 1956 until his death in...
and Bernard-Marie Koltes
Bernard-Marie Koltès
Bernard-Marie Koltès was a French playwright and director.-Life:Born in 1948 to a middle-class family in Metz, his life was violent and anchored in revolt. He tried his hand at writing at a very young age but later renounced it, and didn't take to the stage until the age of twenty...
.
Life
Bradby was educated at Rugby SchoolRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and originally studied Modern Languages at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, but started to develop an interest in the theatre. During his time as a language assistant in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, Bradby became a bit-part actor in Roger Planchon’s theatre company.
Bradby’s subsequent education saw him taking a postgraduate teaching course at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, and then a PhD on the playwright Arthur Adamov
Arthur Adamov
Arthur Adamov was a playwright, one of the foremost exponents of the Theatre of the Absurd.Adamov was born in Kislovodsk in Russia to a wealthy Armenian family, which lost its wealth in 1917...
at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
His academic career included the founding of the Department of Drama at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
in 1970, as well as work with the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Bradby developed the first colloqium on popular film and theatre, featuring contributions from the British theatre director, Max Stafford-Clark
Max Stafford-Clark
Maxwell Robert Guthrie Stewart Stafford-Clark is an English Theatre Director.-Life and career:He went to school at Felsted and Riverdale Country School in New York City. He has worked as a theatre director since he left Trinity College, Dublin.His directing career began as associate director of...
. David Bradby was appointed head of the Department of Drama at the University of Caen, Normandy before moving to Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
in 1988, where he also took the position of department head. He retired in Summer 2007.
Bradby edited the Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
‘Studies in Modern Drama’ series, as well as the journal Contemporary Theatre Review.
He was Professor Emeritus of Drama and Theatre at Royal Holloway. David Bradby give many public lectures and broadcasts; he has also been a consultant and advisor to many productions of works by Jean Genet
Jean Genet
Jean Genet was a prominent and controversial French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. Early in his life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but later took to writing...
, Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
, Michel Vinaver
Michel Vinaver
-Works:* Les Coréens * Iphigénie Hotel * A la renverse * 11 septembre 2001 / 11 September 2001 -References:...
and Bernard-Marie Koltes
Bernard-Marie Koltès
Bernard-Marie Koltès was a French playwright and director.-Life:Born in 1948 to a middle-class family in Metz, his life was violent and anchored in revolt. He tried his hand at writing at a very young age but later renounced it, and didn't take to the stage until the age of twenty...
.
In 1997, he was made a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in recognition of his contribution to the study of French culture.
Bradby was married to the Author Rachel Anderson and died on 17 January 2011.
As editor
- Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt: Plays I (2002)
- Frontline Drama 6: New French Plays (1998)
- Bernard-Marie Koltès: Plays I (1997)
- Michel Vinaver: Plays I; Plays II. (1997).
- Michel Vinaver: Théâtre de Chambre (1995)
- Landmarks of French Classical Drama (1991)
- New French Plays (with C. Schumacher) (1989)
- Kean (1973)