Twin peaks
It is not that unusual for a set of twins to choose to follow the same profession, but it is very abnormal for them both to reach the pinnacle of that vocation. Twin playwrights Peter and Anthony Shaffer did just that. Peter is the better-known...
It is not that unusual for a set of twins to choose to follow the same profession, but it is very abnormal for them both to reach the pinnacle of that vocation. Twin playwrights Peter and Anthony Shaffer did just that. Peter is the better-known dramatist, but Sleuth, written by his late brother Anthony was arguably the greater success.
The brothers were born 81 years ago, to Jewish parents, in Liverpool. Peter Shaffer studied history at Cambridge and wrote his first play - The Salt Land - in 1954. He continued to write prolifically for the stage through the 1960s and beyond. His greatest successes have been, Five Finger Exercise 1958, The Royal Hunt Of The Sun 1964, Equus 1973 and Amadeus 1979. Along the way Mr Shaffer became Sir Peter and picked up many awards for his work, among them was a Tony Award for Equus as the best play of 1975 on Broadway.
Equus is undoubtedly one of his very finest works and we will be able to judge its worth for ourselves next month. Unifaun is to produce Equus at the theatre-in-the-round at St James from November 2 for three nights. Then for the two following weekends ending on November 18. The cast is a very experienced one and contains Alan Paris, Pia Zammit and Sean Buhagiar. Directing will be Marcelle Theuma.
The brothers were born 81 years ago, to Jewish parents, in Liverpool. Peter Shaffer studied history at Cambridge and wrote his first play - The Salt Land - in 1954. He continued to write prolifically for the stage through the 1960s and beyond. His greatest successes have been, Five Finger Exercise 1958, The Royal Hunt Of The Sun 1964, Equus 1973 and Amadeus 1979. Along the way Mr Shaffer became Sir Peter and picked up many awards for his work, among them was a Tony Award for Equus as the best play of 1975 on Broadway.
Equus is undoubtedly one of his very finest works and we will be able to judge its worth for ourselves next month. Unifaun is to produce Equus at the theatre-in-the-round at St James from November 2 for three nights. Then for the two following weekends ending on November 18. The cast is a very experienced one and contains Alan Paris, Pia Zammit and Sean Buhagiar. Directing will be Marcelle Theuma.