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 William Shakespeare ( 23 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 natio ...

's ''

Pericles Pericles (; ; –429 BC) was a Greek statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Ancient Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War, and was acclaimed ...

'' 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 in the 1890s affected Bartlett's life as a gay man 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 Th ...

's ''Splendid's'' * Kleist's ''Prince of Homburg'' and Marivaux's ''La Dispute'' * His adaptation of

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

' ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens. It was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839 and as a three-volume book in 1838. The story follows the titular orphan, who, ...

'', 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. It recounts the ...

''. * Adaptation of ''The Servant'' by Robin Maugham. 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 An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christians, Christian monks and nun ...

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 fin ...

, the

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

, 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 takin ...

, the Brighton Festival, 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 town of Aldeburgh, Suffolk and is centred on Snape Maltings Concert Hall. History of the Aldeburgh Festi ...

, the Holland Festival, the

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

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 En ...

. He also took part in the

Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers. Artistic Directors * Brian McDermott ...

's 2011 project '' Sixty Six Books'', where he wrote a piece based upon a chapter of the

King James Bible The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version (AV), is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by ...

In 2022, he adapted Virginia Woolf's novel ''Orlando'' for a West End production that was directed by

Michael Grandage Michael Grandage Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 2 May 1962) is a British theatre director and producer. He is currently artistic director of the Michael Grandage Company. From 2002 to 2012 he was artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse ...

and starred Emma Corrin. In 2016 Bartlett read aloud the complete text of

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

's ''De Profundis'' (1897) in the old chapel of

HM Prison Reading HM Prison Reading, popularly known as Reading Gaol, is a former prison located in Reading, Berkshire, Reading, Berkshire, England. The prison was operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service (now His Majesty's Prison Service) until its closure at t ...

, where Wilde had been incarcerated from 1895 to 1897.

Work

Fiction

* ''Who Was That Man: A Present for Mr. Oscar Wilde'' (1988) * ''Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall'' (1992) * "Caesar's Gallic Wars" (1996) (short story) * ''Mr. Clive and Mr. Page'' (1996) * ''Skin Lane'' (2007) * 'When the Time Comes; or, the Case of the Man Who Didn't Know' (2008) (short story) * ''The Disappearance Boy'' (2014) * ''Address Book '' 2021

Theatre and radio

* ''More Bigger Snacks Now'' (1985), director for Complicité * ''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep (Part One)'' (1987) * ''

The Misanthrope ''The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover'' (; ) 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 (rue Saint-Honoré), Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by ...

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

Lady Audley's Secret ''Lady Audley's Secret'' is a sensation novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon published on 1 October 1862. It was Braddon's most successful and well-known novel. Critic John Sutherland (author), John Sutherland (1989) described the work as "the most ...

'' (1988–89) for Gloria * ''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep (Part Three)'' (1989–90) for Gloria * '' Berenice'' (1990) for the

Royal National Theatre The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre and sometimes referred to in international contexts as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, ...

* '' The School for Wives'' (1990) for the Derby Playhouse * ''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 entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...

'' (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 ...

, Chicago * ''A Judgement in Stone'' (1992) for Gloria * '' The Game of Love and Chance'' (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 ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

'' (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 Terence 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 Lady of the Camellias'' (), sometimes called ''Camille'' in English, is a novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, Alexandre Dumas ''fils''. First published in 1848 and subsequently Theatrical adaptation, adapted by Dumas for the Drama, stage, the pl ...

'' * ''

'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 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. The original version of the story of Don Juan appears in the 1630 play (''The Trickster of Seville and t ...

'' 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 great writers in the French language and world liter ...

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

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

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

'' (2007), ART Boston, * ''

The Maids ''The Maids'' ( ) 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 play has been revived in Fr ...

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

'' by William Shakespeare (2008), Royal Shakespeare Company, * ''

An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...

'' by

(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 gothic horror novella by Henry James which first appeared in serial format in '' Collier's Weekly'' from January 27 to April 16, 1898. On October 7, 1898, it was collected in ''The Two Magics'', publis ...

'' by

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

(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 ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular ...

(2011), Opera North, * ''

The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is an 1890 philosophical fiction and Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American period ...

'' 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 English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...

'' 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, journalist, world federalist, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the s ...

(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 ''The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People'' is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1892), ''A Woman of No Importance'' (1893) and ''An Ideal Husban ...

'' by Oscar Wilde (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. * ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...

'' (2023), BA Acting CDT,

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, commonly shortened to Central, is a drama school founded by Elsie Fogerty in 1906, as the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for ...

, 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 website

Brief biography

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