British Universities Film & Video Council

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South Bank Show [09/05/1982]

Synopsis
Anthology arts series presented by Melvyn Bragg. The first half of the programme features Joseph Papp. The segment, filmed in New York City, shows Papp being interviewed at various locations relevant to his career and the development of the New York Shakespeare Festival, and includes archival footage and still photos of Papp and his productions. Discussion includes Papp’s childhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; his first encounter with Shakespeare’s works in junior high school; the founding of his Shakespearean workshop at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church on New York’s Lower East Side; directing his first play and his motivation to start a Shakespearean theatrical company; interpreting Shakespeare for American audiences with American actors; and the social and political motivations of his work. Papp speaks about his first shows at the East River amphitheatre; his production of Shakespeare plays in the city’s parks during the 1950s and construction of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park; his administrative and fundraising skills and his belief that admission to the outdoor plays should be free; the subsidisation of the theatre; theatre’s importance to the educational life of the city; his interest in producing contemporary plays and contemporary issues via the plays he produces. [With acknowledgement for the detailed synopsis to the New York Public Library catalogue].
Series
South Bank Show, The
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
9 May 1982 at 22:30 (Channel: ITV)
Duration
60 mins

Credits

Contributor
Joseph Papp; Melvyn Bragg

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); New York Shakespeare Festival; Open-air theatre; Papp, Joseph (1921-1991)

Notes

General
A feature on flautist James Galway formed the second half of the programme.

Production Company

Name

London Weekend Television

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT)

Email
toft@nypl.org
Web
http://www.nypl.org/locations/lpa/theatre-film-and-tape-archive External site opens in new window
Phone
+ 1 (212) 870-1642
Fax
(212) 8701868
Address
Billy Rose Theatre Collection
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York,New York
10023-7498
USA

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