Neil Vivian Bartlett, OBE, (born 1958) is a British director, performer, translator and writer. He was one of the founding members of Gloria, a production company established in 1988 to produce his work along with that of Nicolas Bloomfield, Leah Hausman and Simon Mellor.From the programme to the 1993 Traverse Theatre production of ''Night After Night''. His work has garnered several awards, including the 1985 Perrier Award (as director for Complicite, for ''More Bigger Snacks Now''), the Time Out Dance Umbrella Award (for ''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep''), a Writers Guild Award (for ''Sarrasine''), a Time Out Theatre Award (for ''A Judgement in Stone''), and the Special Jury Prize at the Cork Film Festival (for ''Now That It's Morning''). His production of ''The Dispute'' won a Time Out Award for Best Production in the West End and the 1999 TMA Best Touring Production award. He was appointed an OBE in 2000 for his services to the arts. His 2004 production of Shakespeare's Pericles was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Theatrical Achievement in 2004

Career

Bartlett's first book, ''Who Was That Man'', showed how the gay history of

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in the 1890s affected Bartlett's life as a

gay man ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...

in London in the 1980s. His fourth novel, ''The Disappearance Boy'', was published in London by Bloomsbury Circus in January 2014; his most recent novel '' Address Book'' was published in London by Inkandescent in November 2021. Bartlett's early performance work with Gloria included ''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep'', ''Sarrasine'' and ''Night after Night''. He also served as artistic director at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith from 1994 until 2004. At the Lyric he directed productions of classic British plays, foreign classics which he translated or adapted, and a series of notable Christmas shows. The following are some of the plays he directed and translated: * The first English production of

Jean Genet Jean Genet (; – ) was a French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. In his early life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but he later became a writer and playwright. His major works include the novels ''The Thief's ...

's ''Splendid's'' *

Kleist Kleist, or von Kleist, is a surname. von Kleist: *August von Kleist (1818–1890), Prussian Major General *Conrad von Kleist (1839-1900), German politician (German Conservative Party), member of Reichstag *Ewald Georg von Kleist (ca. 1700–1748), ...

's ''Prince of Homburg'' and

Marivaux Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux (4 February 1688 – 12 February 1763), commonly referred to as Marivaux, was a French playwright and novelist. He is considered one of the most important French playwrights of the 18th century, writing nume ...

's ''La Dispute'' * His adaptation of

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

' '' Oliver Twist'', and ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas C ...

''. * Adaptation of ''The Servant'' by

Robin Maugham Robert Cecil Romer Maugham, 2nd Viscount Maugham (17 May 1916 – 13 March 1981), known as Robin Maugham, was a British author. Trained as a barrister, he served with distinction in the Second World War, and wrote a successful novella, ''The S ...

. Many of Bartlett's translations of classic plays have been performed throughout the world. Since leaving the Lyric he has created work for leading cultural producers including the National Theatre in London, the Abbey in Dublin, the

Bristol Old Vic Bristol Old Vic is a British theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The present company was established in 1946 as an offshoot of the Old Vic in London. It is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which became a f ...

, the

Manchester Royal Exchange The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street. The complex includes the Royal ...

, the

Edinburgh International Festival The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, spread over the final three weeks in August. Notable figures from the international world of music (especially european classical music, classical music) and ...

, the

Manchester International Festival The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work, held in the English city of Manchester and run by Factory International. The festival is a biennial event, first taking ...

, the

Brighton Festival Brighton Festival is a large, annual, curated multi-arts festival in England. It includes music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and family events, and takes place in venues in the city of Brighton and Hove in Engla ...

, the

Aldeburgh Festival The Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts is an English arts festival devoted mainly to classical music. It takes place each June in the Aldeburgh area of Suffolk, centred on Snape Maltings Concert Hall. History of the Aldeburgh Festival Th ...

, the

Holland Festival The Holland Festival () is the oldest and largest performing arts festival in the Netherlands. It takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theatre, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and archit ...

, the

Wellcome Foundation The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation focused on health research based in London, in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1936 with legacies from the pharmaceutical magnate Henry Wellcome (founder of one of the predecessors of Glax ...

and

Tate Britain Tate Britain, known from 1897 to 1932 as the National Gallery of British Art and from 1932 to 2000 as the Tate Gallery, is an art museum on Millbank in the City of Westminster in London, England. It is part of the Tate network of galleries in ...

. He also took part in the Bush Theatre's 2011 project '' Sixty Six Books'', where he wrote a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible

Work

Fiction

* ''Who Was That Man: A Present for Mr. Oscar Wilde'' (1988) * ''Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall'' (1992) * ''Mr. Clive and Mr. Page'' (1996) * ''Skin Lane'' (2007) * ''The Disappearance Boy'' (2014) * ''Address Book '' 2021 * "When the Time Comes; or, the Case of the Man Who Didn't Know" (short story)

Theatre and radio

* ''More Bigger Snacks Now'' (1985), director for

Complicité Complicité is a American theatre company founded in 1898 by Simon McBurney, Annabel Arden, and Marcello Magni. Its original name was Théâtre de Complicité. The company is based in London and uses extreme movement to represent their work, wit ...

* ''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep (Part One)'' (1987) * ''

The Misanthrope ''The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover'' (french: Le Misanthrope ou l'Atrabilaire amoureux; ) is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris b ...

'' (1988), translator for Red Shift * ''

Lady Audley's Secret ''Lady Audley's Secret'' is a sensation novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon published in 1862. John Sutherland. "Lady Audley's Secret" in ''The Stanford Companion to Victorian Fiction'', 1989. It was Braddon's most successful and well-known novel. ...

'' (1988–89) for Gloria * ''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep (Part Three)'' (1989–90) for Gloria * ''

Berenice Berenice ( grc, Βερενίκη, ''Bereníkē'') is the Ancient Macedonian form of the Attic Greek name ''Pherenikē'', which means "bearer of victory" . Berenika, priestess of Demeter in Lete ca. 350 BC, is the oldest epigraphical evidence. ...

'' (1990) for the

Royal National Theatre The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. I ...

* ''

The School for Wives ''The School for Wives'' (french: L'école des femmes; ) is a theatrical comedy written by the seventeenth century French playwright Molière and considered by some critics to be one of his finest achievements. It was first staged at the Palai ...

'' (1990) for the

Derby Playhouse Derby Playhouse was a theatre production company based in Derby, England and the former name of the theatre which it owned and operated from its opening in 1975 until 2008, when the company ceased operating after a period in administration. The th ...

* ''Sarrasine'' (1990–91) for Gloria * ''The Avenging Woman'' (1991) in Riga * ''Let Them Call It Jazz'' (1991) for Gloria * ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vio ...

'' (1992) for the

Goodman Theatre Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of the Chicago theatre scene, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization. Part of its present theater complex occupies the lan ...

, Chicago * ''A Judgement in Stone'' (1992) for Gloria * ''

The Game of Love and Chance ''The Game of Love and Chance'' (french: Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard) is a three-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. ''The Game of Love and Chance'' was first performed 23 January 1730 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, ...

'' (1992–93) for Gloria/Cambridge Theatre Co./Royal National Theatre * ''Night After Night (Part One)'' (1993), musical * ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' (1993), Lyric Hammersmith * ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'' (1995), Lyric Hammersmith/West Yorkshire Playhouse * ''The Letter'' by Somerset Maugham (1995), Lyric Hammersmith * ''Mrs Warren's Profession'' by Bernard Shaw (1996), Lyric Hammersmith * ''Cause Celebre'' by Terrence Rattigan (1998), Lyric Hammersmith * '' The Seven Sacraments of Nicolas Poussin'' (1998) * '' The Verger Queen'' or ''Bette's Full Service'' (2000) * ''In Extremis'' (2000) * ''Does You Good'' (2001) * ''Camille'' (2003), adaptation of ''

The Lady of the Camellias ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' * ''

Pericles Pericles (; grc-gre, Περικλῆς; c. 495 – 429 BC) was a Greek politician and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Pelopo ...

'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

(2003), Lyric Hammersmith, * ''

Don Juan Don Juan (), also known as Don Giovanni (Italian), is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women. Famous versions of the story include a 17th-century play, '' El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'' ...

'' by

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...

(2004), Lyric Hammersmith, * ''Improbable'' (2004), radio * '' Dido, Queen of Carthage'' by

Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe, also known as Kit Marlowe (; baptised 26 February 156430 May 1593), was an English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is among the most famous of the Elizabethan playwrights. Based upon the ...

(2005), ART Boston, * ''The Rake's Progress'' Auden/Stravinsky (2006), Aldeburgh Festival, * '' Oliver Twist'' (2007), ART Boston, * ''

The Maids ''The Maids'' (french: Les Bonnes, links=no) is a 1947 play by the French dramatist Jean Genet. It was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris in a production that opened on 17 April 1947, which Louis Jouvet directed. The pla ...

'' by Genet (2007), Brighton Festival, * ''

'' by William Shakespeare (2008), Royal Shakespeare Company, * '' An Ideal Husband'' by

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

(2008), The Abbey, Dublin, * ''

'' by William Shakespeare (2008), Royal Shakespeare Company, * ''Everybody Loves A Winner'' (2009), Manchester Royal Exchange, * ''

The Turn of the Screw ''The Turn of the Screw'' is an 1898 horror novella by Henry James which first appeared in serial format in ''Collier's Weekly'' (January 27 – April 16, 1898). In October 1898, it was collected in ''The Two Magics'', published by Macmill ...

'' by

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

(2009), Aldeburgh Festival, * '' Or You Could Kiss Me'' (2010), with Handspring Theatre Company, National Theatre, London, * ''The Queen of Spades'' by

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

(2011), Opera North, * ''

The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a philosophical fiction, philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical ''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''.''Th ...

'' by Oscar Wilde (2012), The Abbey, Dublin, * ''The Canticles'' by Benjamin Britten (2013), Brighton Festival/Royal Opera House, London, * ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'' by Charles Dickens (2013), The Bristol Old Vic, * ''Owen Wingrave'' by Benjamin Britten (2014), The Edinburgh International Festival, * ''Stella'' (2016), London International Festival of Theatre, * ''The Plague'' by

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

(2017), Arcola Theatre, London. * ''Medea (Written in Rage)'' by Jean-René Lemoine (2017), Birmingham Rep * '' Twenty Four Hours of Peace'' (2019) Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. * ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' (2020) RADA, London. * '' Tenebrae; Lessons Learnt in Darkness'' (2020) Brighton Festival. * ''Orlando'' (2022),

Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play ...

, London.

Television

* ''That's What Friends Are For'' (1988) television, for After Image/Channel Four * ''Where Is Love?'' (1988) television, for ICA/BBC2 * ''Pedagogue'' (1988) with Stuart Marshall * ''That's How Strong My Love Is'' (1989) television, for Channel Four * ''Now That It's Morning'' (1992) television, for Channel Four/British Screen

References

Sources

* Bartlett, Neil, adapter. 2003. '' Camille''. By Alexandre Dumas ''fils''. London: Oberon. . * Bartlett, Neil. 2005. ''Solo Voices: Monologues 1987-2004''. London: Oberon. . * Burton, Peter, editor. 2008. ''A Casualty of War: the Arcadia Book of Gay Short Stories''. London: Arcadia Books. .

External links

Official websiteBrief biographyIMDB biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bartlett, Neil 1958 births English dramatists and playwrights English gay actors English gay writers Living people English translators English theatre directors English male radio actors 21st-century English novelists LGBT dramatists and playwrights English LGBT novelists English male dramatists and playwrights English male novelists English LGBT actors Officers of the Order of the British Empire 20th-century English male writers 20th-century British translators 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century English male writers English male non-fiction writers 21st-century British translators 21st-century LGBT people