Panel discussion with Michael Pennington, Professor Jonathan Bate FBA (University of Warwick) and Professor Mary Luckhurst (University of York), chaired by Professor Robert Hewison (City University London)

Thursday 12 May 2011, 7.15pm
The Beveridge Hall, Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
as part of the British Academy's 2011 Literature Week

This discussion, chaired by the drama critic and academic Robert Hewison, will explore the various challenges involved in building plays and performances around biography. Jonathan Bate, author of the play The Man from Stratford talks from a writer’s perspective, Michael Pennington will discuss from the actor's viewpoint the differences between playing "real" and fictional characters on stage and Mary Luckhurst, playwright, director and author of Playing for Real: Actors on Playing Real People, will add her varied experience.

Biography On The Stage

The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. ​

From artificial intelligence to climate change, from building prosperity to improving well-being – today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, cultures and societies.​

We invest in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas, ​engage the public with fresh thinking and debates, and bring together scholars, government, business and civil society to influence policy for ​the benefit of everyone. ​