An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
Creator:
Roose-Evans, James,
1927-2022
Title:
James Roose-Evans Papers
Dates:
circa 1961-1977
Extent:
1 box (.42 linear feet)
Abstract:
The collection documents Roose-Evans' work as founder and
director of the Hampstead Theatre and the Stage Two theater workshop. The bulk of
the papers
consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence with author Laurie Lee, and others
in the
theater field. In addition to the correspondence, there are funding and proposal letters,
a
written plan for the formation of the Stage Two Theater Workshop, letters of recommendation
and a substantial amount of notes and scripts.
Call Number:
Manuscript Collection MS-03602
Language:
English
Note:
A large volume of James Roose-Evans materials at the Ransom Center (approximately
50 boxes) remain uncataloged. These materials document Roose-Evans' life and career
up to 2021. Please
contact the Center for questions about these and related materials.
Access:
Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to
the
Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information
that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers
are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable
living
individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals
may have
legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy
may
arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be
deemed
highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University
of
Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use:
Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the
owner of
the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright
holder
which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom
Center's Open Access and Use Policies.
James Roose-Evans, theater director and author, was born in London on November 11,
1927. He
completed his education at Oxford University in 1957. Roose-Evans began his career
as an
actor, but by 1954 had started directing. He founded the Hampstead Theatre Club in
1959, and
served as artistic director until 1971. In 1969, while at the Hampstead, Roose-Evans
also
founded and became director of Stage Two, an experimental theater workshop and research
center.
Roose-Evans also lectured at, and conducted various theater workshops in the United
States
throughout his career. In addition, he directed numerous West End productions, including
Under Milk Wood, Cider with Rosie, Private Lives, The Happy Apple, An Ideal Husband, Spitting Image, 84 Charing Cross Road, The Seven Year Itch, The Best of Friends, and Mate, a Personal Affair. Roose-Evans also authored books on theater,
as well as a series of children's books in the 1970s. He was a member of the Royal
Society
of Arts, the Welsh Arts Council, Southeast Wales Art Association, and the Welsh Dance
Theatre.
Roose-Evans died at age 94 on October 26, 2022.
Sources:
Contemporary Authors. New Revision Series, Vol. 35. Detroit: Gale
Research Company, 1983.
Who's Who in the Theater. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale Research Company,
1981.
Scope and Contents
The papers of James Roose-Evans, circa 1961-1977, document his work as founder and
director
of the Hampstead Theatre and the Stage Two theater workshop. The bulk of the papers
consist
of incoming and outgoing correspondence with author Laurie Lee, and others in the
theater
field. There is also a substantial amount of notes and scripts pertaining to Roose-Evans'
adaptation of Lee's Cider with Rosie. The papers are divided into two
series: I. Hampstead Theatre, Stage Two Theater Workshop, circa 1961-1977, undated
(9
folders), and II. Cider with Rosie Materials, circa 1962-1969, undated
(4 folders).
The Hampstead Theatre, Stage Two Theater Workshop series is grouped together alphabetically
by last name of the correspondent. The majority of this correspondence relates to
Roose-Evans' promotion of, and requested funding for, the Stage Two theater workshop.
This
correspondence was arranged and kept by Roose-Evans in groupings that reflect the
topic and
relationship of the communication, and is enhanced by handwritten notes from him.
In
addition to the correspondence, there are funding and proposal letters, a written
plan for
the formation of the Stage Two Theater Workshop, and letters of recommendation for
one of
Roose-Evans' U.S. lecture series. Prominent correspondents include: Lord David Cecil,
Richmond Crinkley, Harold Hobson, Eddie Kulukundis, Laurie Lee, Malcolm Muggeridge,
Margaret
Rawlings, James Saunders, C. P. Snow, Kenneth Williams, Sandy Wilson, Sir Donald Wolfit,
and
others. All correspondents in the collection are indexed.
Series II. contains only materials relating to Roose-Evans' adaptation of Cider with Rosie for the stage. Highlighting these materials are
correspondence between Lee and Roose-Evans about the adaptation, the original lighting
plot
by Roose-Evans (with illustrations) on the production, as well as portions of a prompt
copy.
Also included is a program of the production from 1963, and an undated publicity
photograph.
