Pinter Clarifies 'No More Plays' Position???

Following an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row programme, a few weeks back large swathes of the mainstream media jumped on the bandwagon last month in reporting that Harold Pinter has given up writing plays (See The Goss, 1 Mar 2005). In fact, Pinter has been saying publicly for several years that he doubted whether he had any more plays in him. This week, in an interview with The Sunday Times, Pinter himself clarified his comment. “I’d like to correct that straightaway,” the writer told the newspaper’s Bryan Appleyard. “I said something casually. It was not a declaration of policy or intent, it was just a very practical matter. I haven’t written a play for six years, and I think it’s unlikely that I’ll write another one. My writing, such as it is, is going into other things, mainly poetry. That’s all there is to it.” Let’s hope that Pinter does feel dramatically inspired again at some point – he and Tom Stoppard are currently the lead contenders to be named the “Greatest Living Playwright” by Whatsonstage.com theatregoers in our Big Debate survey (to vote, click here). In the meantime, a new production of his first full-length play, 1958’s The Birthday Party, starring Henry Goodman and Eileen Atkins, transfer to the West End’s Duchess Theatre later this month (See News, 11 Feb 2005).

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