sub-sub-series 1 - Correspondence

2 boxes

Correspondence is arranged chronologically, and includes letters from friends, including fellow playwrights and others associated with the theatre, as well as members of the public; a small number of the letters concern business matters, relating to production or publication. An example of these letters appears in some of the earliest dated correspondence, with several letters relating to the matter of John Dexter's involvement in 'Amadeus' and his demand for a percentage of the royalties, which result in several letters from Shaffer describing the earliest draft of 'Amadeus' as well as the stress that working with Dexter had caused him in the past (item 3). In amongst the many admiring letters for the play and then the film and revivals is a letter from Paul Scofield mentioning a couple of errors on stage (item 33), from Janet Baker whole-heartedly agreeing with his description of the ensemble in a Mozart opera (item 41); from Simon Callow, who writes of his pleasure in being hailed by Luciano Pavarotti as 'Mozart!' in a theatre foyer (item 62). Shaffer himself describes going to the cinema with Tom Hulce as one of a huge crowd of people (item 114); some letters include his emendations to scenes in the play, such as the letter to David Suchet (item 188), and a letter to his agent Dennis Aspland (item 200).

Some items of a more personal nature are presently closed, which may account for gaps in the numbering of materials.