| Level | Fonds |
| Finding Number (Click this to use the hierarchy browser to access the full catalogue) | MS788 |
| Title | Noel Coward's 'Present laughter', typescript for radio adaptation |
| Extent | 1 item |
| Date | [1956] |
| Image (Click this image to open a larger image; click the larger image to magnify the detail). | 
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| Description | The typescript is for the 1956 radio adaptation of Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter' by Cynthia Pughe. The script is annotated by Sir John Gielgud. According to the rehearsal schedule which is reproduced on the front page, this radio adaptation was recorded on Sunday 12th February 1956.
John Gielgud, who was playing Garry Essendine, has marked all Garry's speeches and most of the 69 foolscap pages have notes in his hand. These include textual corrections and emendations, performance directions and doodles. There are frequent and substantive changes to the spoken text as well as interpolations and a couple of longer sections of rewriting in Gielgud's hand. There are also the performance directions. There are lots of suggestions to 'sit' and 'stand' and 'move away' from the microphone as well as more nuanced indications of mood: 'surprised against myself', 'not too fast', 'climax', 'a bit panicked' etc. Finally there are half a dozen of the actor's doodles. |
| Access Conditions | Access to all registered readers. |
| Copyright | Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections (email: special-collections@bham.ac.uk). Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material |
| Language | English |
| Finding Aids | This is a preliminary description and will be enhanced at a future date. For further information please contact Special Collections. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Creator Name | Coward, Sir, Noel, 1899-1973, playwright and actor |
| Custodial History | The script comes from a BBC employee who was involved in the production. |
| Related Material | Special Collections holds the Noel Coward collection, see reference: COW. |