| Series title: | Drama Department: Theatre Writing, 1952-1991 | |
| Reference: | ACGB/40 | |
| Extent: | 414 folders |
The Drama Department was mainly responsible for administering grants to and assessing the work of the Council's revenue and annual drama clients and for administering project grants and awards. It also operated the Council's schemes to encourage new writing for the theatre, which had started in 1952. The committee with responsibility for new writing began as a sub-commmittee of the Drama Panel, referred to as the New Drama Sub-Committee until October 1966, when it becomes the New Drama Committee; in April 1975 it changes name to the New Writing Committee and changes again in December 1978 to the Theatre Writing Committee. In 1980, when the Arts Council undertook a major re-structuring of its panels and committees, new writing returned to being the responsibility of a sub-committee - the Theatre Writing and Bursaries Sub-Committee.
This series incorporates the Drama Department records which were originally marked as "New Drama I", "New Drama II", "Theatre Writing" (pink numbers[arabic]) and "Theatre Writing" (roman numerals). It also contains any miscellaneous material which relates to Theatre Writing.
Arrangement
The items in this series have been arranged into five categories (1) Plays (2) Clients of the committee/sub-committee (3) Arts Council Panels, Committees, and Schemes, associated with New Drama (4) Groups connected with new drama (5) Correspondence, Enquiries, Miscellaneous. Within each category, items are generally arranged chronologically and the orginal references have been noted.
General information on access to archives at the V&A is available on the archive pages of the V&A website.
Restrictions on access
Access to some unpublished material may be restricted and requests for access can take up to 20 working days to be processed. When applying for access, it is helpful if you can quote the reference number, title and covering dates of the file(s) in question. For very large requests you are advised to contact us to discuss your requirements. All requests should be sent to archive@vam.ac.uk or Victoria and Albert Museum Archives (ref. ACGB), Blythe House, 23 Blythe Road, London W14 0QX.
| Reference | Description | Dates | ||
| ACGB/40/122 | New Drama Register Pages 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVII |
1952-1968 | ||
| ACGB/40/1 | New Play Awards / Plays recommended for
New Drama Guarantees 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box A1 |
1954-1959 | ||
| ACGB/40/2 | Plays not offered New Drama
Guarantees 4 folders Previous ref: New Drama series I Box A2 |
1955-1957 | ||
| ACGB/40/3 | Plays recommended for New Drama
Guarantees 1 box Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box B |
1955-1963 | ||
| ACGB/40/4 | Plays recommended for New Drama
Guarantees 4 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box C |
1957-1962 | ||
| ACGB/40/5 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees 6 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box D1 |
1957-1963 | ||
| ACGB/40/6 |
Plays recommended for Second Guarantees / Plays submitted for reading, 1960/61 4 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series 1 Box D2 |
1957-1963 | ||
| ACGB/40/8 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1963-64
3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Boxes F and 1 F |
1958-1966 | ||
| ACGB/40/7 | Plays offered 2nd guarantees and those not recommended, 1962-63 5 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Boxes E and G |
1961-1963 | ||
| ACG/40/9 | Plays not recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1964-65 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Boxes E and G |
1962-1965 | ||
| ACGB/40/10 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1965-67 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box H1 |
1962-1969 | ||
| ACGB/40/23 | 'Neglected Plays' recommended and not recommended for New Drama Guarantees
3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box N1 |
1963-1966 | ||
| ACGB/40/11 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1965-67 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box H2 |
1965-1968 | ||
| ACGB/40/12 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1965-67 2 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box H3 |
1965-1968 | ||
| ACGB/40/14 | Plays recommended and not recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1967-69 2 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box J |
1965-1969 | ||
| ACGB/40/13 | Plays not recommended for New Drama Guarantees 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box H4 |
1965-1969 | ||
| ACGB/40/15 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1968-69 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box K1 |
1965-1969 | ||
| ACGB/40/24 | 'Neglected Plays' recommended and not recommended for New Drama Guarantees 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box N2 |
1966-1970 | ||
| ACGB/40/18 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1969-70 4 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Boxes L1 and L2 |
1966-1970 | ||
| ACGB/40/16 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1968-69 2 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box K2 |
1967-1969 | ||
| ACGB/40/21 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1970-71 2 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box M2 |
1967-1971 | ||
| ACGB/40/17 | Plays not recommended for New Drama Guarantees 2 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box K3 |
1968-1969 | ||
| ACGB/40/19 | Plays not offered New Drama Guarantees 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box L3 |
1968-1970 | ||
| ACGB/40/20 | Plays recommended for New Drama Guarantees, 1970-71 4 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box M1 |
1968-1971 | ||
| ACGB/40/109 | New plays funded, 1952-69
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXIV |
[1969?] | ||
| ACGB/40/22 | Plays not offered New Drama Guarantees, 1970-71 2 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series I Box M3 |
1969-1971 | ||
| ACGB/40/106 | Schemes for the promotion of 'New drama' and 'Neglected plays': Offers made 3 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XX |
1971-1972 | ||
| ACGB/40/127 | New Drama: Offers 1973/74
6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXX[?] |
1973-1975 | ||
| ACGB/40/98 | Play Publication 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1975-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/97 | Play Competitions 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1981-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/132 | Offers made 1 folder |
1986-1987 | ||
| ACGB/40/101 | Writers' Files 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XIV |
1957-1974 | ||
| ACGB/40/111 | Writers' Files 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXIV |
1969-1981 | ||
| ACGB/40/134 | Miscellaneous Individual Clients'
Files 1 box |
1971-1984 | ||
| The files in this box relate to Theatre Writing, but it has proved impossible to know if they formed part of one of the main Theatre Writing series as the front of the box was missing. | ||||
| ACGB/40/28 | Client Files: ACT-CAM
5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 1 |
1972-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/29 | Client Files: BRO-COV 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 2 |
1973-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/30 | Client Files: COV-DIS 6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 3 |
1973-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/31 | Client Files: DOG-FAR
6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 4 |
1973-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/33 | Client Files: FLE-HAM 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 6 |
1973-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/32 | Client Files: ICA-LIT
6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 5 |
1973-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/35 | Client Files: MAJ-MRS 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 8 |
1974-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/36 | Client Files: NAT-NOT 6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 9 |
1973-1985 | ||
| Access to material in one folder may be restricted until 2056 | ||||
| ACGB/40/37 | Client Files: OCT-PIR 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 10 |
1974-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/38 | Client Files: PIT-RIC
5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 11 |
1977-1985 | ||
| Access to material in one folder may be restricted until 2024 | ||||
| ACGB/40/39 |
Client Files: RIV-SEC 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 12 |
1973-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/40 | Client Files: SHA-STR 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 13 |
1973-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/41 | Client Files: THE-TYN 4 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 14 |
1972-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/42 | Client Files: UNI-ZAP 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 15 |
1973-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/34 | Client Files: HAM-HUM, LIV, LON, 7:84,
TEM-THE 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box 7 |
1972-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/46 | Miscellaneous authors / applicants: A 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IV |
1976-1981 | ||
| ACGB/40/47 | Miscellaneous authors / applicants: B 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IV |
1978-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/45 | Miscellaneous authors / applicants: C-H 7 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box III |
1975-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/44 | Miscellaneous authors / applicants: I-P 6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box II |
1975-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/43 | Miscellaneous authors / applicants: R-Z 6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box I |
1976-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/78 | Company statistics and other analyses
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1982-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/129 | Theatre Writing: Writer Files A-Z 22 folders |
1977-1990 | ||
| Material in folders 3 and 11 may be restricted until 2043 | ||||
| ACGB/40/128 | Theatre Writing Scheme: Company Files A-Z 19 folders |
1982-1989 | ||
| Access to material in folders 2, 9, 17 may be restricted until 2043, 2041, and 2042, respectively | ||||
| ACGB/40/91 | Company Estimates 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1984-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/66 | Rejected Applications 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VII |
1984-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/130 | Theatre Writing: Client Files A-Z
9 folders |
1985-1992 | ||
| These are in alphabetical order but clients H-M are absent; since this material was not in its original box, there is no way to determine whether or not the information was originally included here. | ||||
| Material in one folder may be restricted until 2046 | ||||
| ACGB/40/126 | Theatre Writing Committee: Minutes and associated papers 6 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVIV |
1952-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/125 | New Drama Committee: Other papers, conditions, etc 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVIII |
1952-1973 | ||
| ACGB/40/115 | 'Help for Playwrights' Scheme 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVI |
1963-1972 | ||
| ACGB/40/102 | Trainee Directors / Producers Scheme 4 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XV |
1965-1972 | ||
| ACGB/40/124 |
New Drama: Play reports, panel correspondence 3 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVIII |
1968-1973 | ||
| ACGB/40/104 | Trainee Directors Scheme: Rejected applicants 4 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XVII |
1970-1973 | ||
| Material in one folder may be restricted until 2030 | ||||
| ACGB/40/105 | Schemes for Promotion of 'New Drama' and 'Neglected Plays': Offers made 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XIX |
1971-1973 | ||
| ACGB/40/120 | New Writing Committee: Correspondence 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVII |
1973-1979 | ||
| ACGB/40/99 | Theatre Writing Committee: John Whiting Award 3 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Boxes XI and XII |
1973-1980 | ||
| ACGB/40/100 | Theatre Writing Committee: Minutes 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XIII |
1976-1979 | ||
| ACGB/40/119 | Theatre Writing Committee: Policy 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVI |
1977-1979 | ||
| ACGB/40/121 | Theatre Writer Schemes 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVII |
1977-1980 | ||
| ACGB/40/48 | John Whiting Award 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IV |
1978-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/93 | Writing Schemes: Press releases and writer biographies 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1979-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/55 | Theatre Writing Committee: General 3 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1979-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/63 |
Readers Panel 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1979-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/52 |
Theatre Writing Committee: Transfer of responsibility 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1979-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/95 |
Arts Council: General policy 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1980 | ||
| ACGB/40/123 | Theatre Writing Committee: Minutes 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVIII |
1980-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/110 | Theatre Writing Returns 4 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXIV |
1980-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/50 | Training Committee 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1980-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/54 | Training Officers 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1980-1983 | ||
| Access to material in one folder may be restricted until 2064 | ||||
| ACGB/40/82 | Meetings with subsidised companies 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1981-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/61 | Writing schemes 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1981-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/135 | Combined Awards 1 folder |
1981-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/67 |
Drama Panel 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1981-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/94 | Projects Committee: Minutes 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1981-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/71 |
Drama / Finance Officers Meetings 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1983-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/75 | Arts Council Trust for Special Funds 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1983-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/76 | Australian Playwrights' Conference 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1974 | ||
| ACGB/40/96 | North West Arts: New Drama Schemes 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1975-1979 | ||
| ACGB/40/51 | Theatre Writers' Union 3 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1975-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/56 |
Theatres' National Committee (TNC): Writers Negotiating Group
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1977-1979 | ||
| ACGB/40/59 |
Society of Scottish Playwrights 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1977-1980 | ||
| ACGB/40/79 | Gulbenkian Foundation 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1977-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/84 | Northern Playwrights' Society 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1977-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/62 | Regional Arts Associations: New Writing 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VII |
1977-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/53 |
Theatre Writers' Union / Dead Writers' Levy 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box V |
1977-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/83 | National Playwrights Conference 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1978-79 | ||
| ACGB/40/86 | East Midlands Arts: Youth Theatre Writer Residency 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1978-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/74 | John Allen: Comparative Study in Europe 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1979-1980 | ||
| ACGB/40/80 | International Theatre Institute 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1980-1981 | ||
| ACGB/40/64 | Radio Theatre 81 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VII |
1980-1981 | ||
| ACGB/40/57 | Theatre Managers Association 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1980-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/90 | Forum on New Writing
Companies 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1981 | ||
| ACGB/40/73 | Agents 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1981-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/77 | British Council
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1981-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/81 | Midlands New Writers Festival 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1981-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/60 | Society of Authors
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1981-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/87 | East Midlands Arts: General 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1981-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/92 | Essex University: Resident Writer 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box X |
1981-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/68 | East Midlands
Arts: Mansfield Residency 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/72 | ABSA Advisory Service
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/69 | Contemporary Music Network 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/85 | Ordinalia 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/65 | Playwrights in residence at Institutes of Higher Education
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VII |
1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/88 | East Midland Arts: Playwriting Forum 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1983-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/58 |
Society of West End Theatres (SWET)
1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VI |
1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/133 | New Playwrights' Trust 2 folders |
1986-1991 | ||
| ACGB/40/25 |
Miscellaneous and general correspondence 26 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series II Boxes A-D and F |
1955-1973 | ||
| ACGB/40/27 |
Paid Readers' Correspondence 5 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series II Box G |
1958-1973 | ||
| ACGB/40/26 | Bursary Enquiries 3 folders Previous ref: New Drama Series II Box E |
1959-1970 | ||
| ACGB/40/116 | Bursary Enquiries 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVI |
1967-1972 | ||
| ACGB/40/114 | New Drama: General Correspondence 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVI |
1969-1970 | ||
| ACGB/40/117 | New Drama: Miscellaneous 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVI |
1969-1972 | ||
| ACGB/40/113 | Miscellaneous correspondence, minutes and reader reports 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXV |
1970-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/112 |
Papers to be sorted as a result of re-organising filing 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXIV |
1970-1984 | ||
| ACGB/40/108 |
New Drama: General correspondence 4 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXII |
1972-1974 | ||
| ACGB/40/107 | New Drama: General correspondence 5 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXI |
1973-1974 | ||
| ACGB/40/103 | Enquiries 4 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XVI |
1973-1977 | ||
| ACGB/40/49 | Enquiries, applications and general correspondence 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IV |
1975-1985 | ||
| ACGB/40/118 | Enquiries and 'New Writing' Correspondence 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box XXVI |
1978-1982 | ||
| ACGB/40/131 | Statistics 2 folders |
1980-1981 | ||
| ACGB/40/70 | Audience Statistics 2 folders Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box VIII |
1981-1983 | ||
| ACGB/40/89 | Enquiries 1 folder Previous ref: Theatre Writing Box IX |
1982-1983 |