The Playwrights Database

• Home

• Playwrights

• Plays
• Characters
• Literary Agents
• Play Publishers
• Theatres
• Gay/Lesbian
• Useful Links
• About Doollee
• Submit Info to Doollee

web doollee.com

JAMES FORSYTH

  (1913 - 2005)
Nationality:    Scottish
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    Claire Evans Associates  

James Law Forsyth, born March 5, 1913 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK; died: February 2005 (age 91) in Ansty, England, UK. After distinguished war service, he became dramatist on the staff of the Old Vic in London 1946-8.
From memory, he was married twice, his first wife was Louise, who died - I forget the name of his 2nd wife. He had no children as far as I know. When I knew him, he lived in Sussex, in Ansty(e?) (near Cuckfield, I think). On the property was a disused barn which he converted to a Theatre, and put on his plays with the villagers - not sure if he brought in professionals to take the lead roles. the Theatre was uncomfortable, just cushions on the steps of the tiered audience area, and impossible to heat in winter, so one went well-prepared with blankets. I remember seeing one of his plays when I was a teenager in the 1970's and must confess I found it an ordeal - a very long historical play without much action. the 'three Plays' published in April 1956 were 'the Other Heart', 'Heloise' and 'Adelaise'. His preface is signed 'Anstye, Sussex, April 1956. J.F.' Published by William Heinemann, London. Introduction by Tyrone Guthrie, which I can also scan to you, if my scAnner behaves itself, but it has little further biographical info. the plays were first performed in a radio version on the Third Programme (now Radio 3?) of the BBC in August 1951. the final 2 pages of this book give the cast - I am no expert on the history of British Theatre, but names that ring a bell are Cyril Cusack, Hattie Jacques (of 'Carry On' fame?) and Claire Bloom. I can scan these 2 pages to you also if required - there may be other names you know. An earlier Nativity play of his, Emmanuel, was published in 1952, also by Heinemann. James Forsyth was also an accomplished artist, and I have 2 of his etchings, one of his Barn Theatre dated 1977, the other a winter scene dated 1979. I found a further copy of the Barn Theatre etching for sale on ebay a couple of years ago. I do not know when he died - I lost touch with him and his 2nd wife when I left university to work in South Africa in 1976, but he kept in touch with my aunt, who then lived in Surrey. My aunt passed away in 1985, and I don't remember her ever telling me that James had died, so I guess he was still alive then.
with thanks to Jonathan Makins

Buy Plays with Doollee

Each page of doollee.com has links to play/book outlets, either directly to the Publisher, through Stageplays.com and Amazon to the second hand and 1st editions of AbeBooks. These links will automatically take you to the relevant area obviating the need for further search.
AbeBooks.co.uk   AbeBooks.com   Stageplays.com   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.ca

---

whether you are a Playwright who wishes to make their entry definitive, an unlisted Playwright or a User with a tale to tell - we want to hear from you.
download WORD submission template

below is a list of James Forsyth's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

        Adelaise         Brand         Christmas At Greccio         Cyrano De Bergerac         Dear Wormwood         Defiant Island         Emmanuel         Everyman         Fifteen Strings Of Money         Four Triumphant         Heloise         If My Wings Heal         Joshua         Lobsterback         Medicine Man         N For Napoleone         No Crown For Herod         Other Heart, The         Pier, The         Play Of Alban, The         Road To Emmaus, The         Screwtape         Seven Scenes For Yeni         Time Of Harvest         Trog         Wenceslas         What the Dickens         When Snow Lay Around