The Idiot (Playscripts)

Literature & Fiction

Simon Gray

Dramas & Plays

Methuen young books

Butley (Modern Plays)

Dr Helena Twiscombe is a middle-aged, fat, alcoholic university professor. Her niece, Sissy, comes from Australia to visit. These are the only verifiable facts in the novel. The main body of the book is the supposed writings of one of Dr Twiscombe's `grateful' students, where the `student' (female) appears to have seduced Dr Twiscombe's niece, caused another inadequate teacher to commit suicide and generally wreaked emotional havoc amongst students and staff at the university. However, it becomes clear that these `writings' and the `student' are the product of Dr Twiscombe's imagination as she slides into a nervous breakdown and eventually commits suicide

Breaking Hearts

Contemporary

Faber and Faber Limited

'Tomorrow - no, fuckwit, later today, this afternoon or evening, Friday, I'm going to devote my diary to telling the story of the fate of my last play, The Late Middle Classes, and on into the story of what's happening, failing to happen, with my new play Japes (working title).' But, this being a Simon Gray diary, other avenues, not to mention parks, cinemas, river journeys, theatre outings, hospitals, trains, cars and of course George (the dog) provide an irresistible melange of hilarious anecdote and bleak, black humour. As always with Simon Gray, the elegance of the writing, coupled with his sheer disbelief at what the world throws at him, makes his work a joy to read.

Enter a fox

Biographies & Memoirs

Faber and Faber

Coda

'A superbly written play, a funny play, an agonising play. It is, moreover, a play of truth and insight. A play to savour.' Punch on Otherwise Engaged 'Life in the theatre hasn't brought me anything more rewarding than directing Simon Gray's plays.' Harold Pinter Plaintiffs and Defendants Exceptionally good... the play gave such a rending picture of married mess that it was hard to know where to look.' Clive James, Observer 'Simon Gray is the one [TV playwright] whose work I most relish seeing for his acerbic wit, wonderful ironies and above all for his care with our mother tongue.' Dennis Potter

Simon Gray: Plays 2

Poetry

Faber Faber Plays

'The brave little lives that Gray so compassionately illuminates could be lived by any of us, and that's why they arouse emotions that are anything but small.' New York Times on Quartermaine's Terms

Simon Gray: Plays 3

Faber&Faber

'Like a Henry James novella; circuitous, ambiguous, enthralling and chilling' - "Financial Times" on "The Late Middle Classes".

Simon Gray: Plays 5

"There are few things more enjoyable than reading the diaries of Simon Gray". (Craig Brown, "Mail on Sunday"). Simon Gray's witty, painful, and acutely observed "Early Diaries" chronicle the highs and lows of bringing two of his plays to the stage. "An Unnatural Pursuit" records the London production of The Common Pursuit, from the nail-biting process of finding a producer through rehearsals to the first-night post-mortem. This is an enthralling insight into the world of Simon Gray, his working relationship with Harold Pinter - who directed many of his plays - and into the fascinating business of putting on a play. "A remarkable account of a remarkable experience". (Harold Pinter). "How's That for Telling 'em, Fat Lady?" describes Gray's experiences staging "The Common Pursuit" and "Dog Days" in Los Angeles and New York. "Not only the funniest book ever written about the American theatre, but a biliously accurate memoir of the inescapable beastliness of modern life. It splutters with instantly comic characters ...and richest of all these is the self-portrait of the author, whose bellicose melancholy and fortitude is so ripe and raw. For those who dread grease-paint anecdotalism, don't be put off. It's a terrific comic adventure, terrifically told with exquisite ill-temper". (John Osborne, "Spectator").

Early Diaries

Humor & Satire

A very English modern play, reeking of real tragedy, real humour and real life. The Common Pursuit chronicles the erosion of the ambitions of a smug, elitist group of Cambridge frien's. Stuart is editor of a literary magazine and the pursuit of excellence is shown to be economically a bad proposition in this world. The magazine collapses and the characters' fates vary as the play proceeds. An ironic epilogue returns to the early days in Cambridge with the young people planning their futures.

The Common Pursuit.

GRAY, Simon

Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

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Books by Simon Gray