The Stage

Shortlist for Sheridan Morley Prize announced

Published Wednesday 29 April 2009 at 17:17 by Alistair Smith

Biographies of playwright Arthur Miller, ballerina Lydia Lopokova, director Peter Gill and actors Ellen Terry and Henry Irving will vie for this year’s Sheridan Morley Prize for Best Theatre Biography.

Now in its second year, the prize celebrates “excellence and originality” in a theatre biography, autobiography or diary. In its inaugural year, the prize was awarded to Dominic Dromgoole for his book Will and Me.

The shortlist for 2009 features A Strange Eventful History by Michael Holroyd, a portrait of the lives of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving, Bloomsbury Ballerina by Judith Mackrell, a biography of ballerina Lydia Lopokova, Apprenticeship by Peter Gill, a recollection based on Gill’s diary about his time acting in Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle at the RSC before becoming a director and playwright, and Arthur Miller by Christopher Bigsby, a biography of one of the twentieth century’s greatest playwrights.

This year’s judging panel is chaired by critic, broadcaster and biographer Ruth Leon, and includes last year’s winner Dromgoole, actress Patricia Hodge and publisher-literary agent Christopher Sinclair-Stevenson. The winner of the prize, which is named in memory of the critic and biographer Sheridan Morley, will receive a cash award of £2,000.

The prize will be announced on May 5 at the Garrick Club, London.