Item 6 - Letter from Peter Shaffer to Simon Fanshawe

4 sheets

Letter faxed to Fanshawe on letterhead of Hotel Excelsior, Roma - Enjoyed their interview, agrees that De Soto (one of Fanshawe's roles) is an ungrateful role, and has always wanted to expand it, as 'it is always one of my chief desires in writing to provide actors with parts they can really enjoy playing'; writes to express that he wishes the article could focus on his work and feelings for the stage rather than his private life, cherishes his privacy, does not understand trend to voluntarily surrender it (cites 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'), would be distressed if any specific mention of his sexual preference were printed; goes on AIDS marches out of 'absolute sympathy and a deep sense of duty', but finds it embarrassing to be marching in front of men in costumes; finds it is often 'the self-advertising exhibitionists' who gain control of a movement, but recognises that they are the ones who move people to action, finds he both admires their vehemence and finds them irritating; perhaps the disinclination to take sides is the most helpful quality in a playwright; would much rather the article focused on the intoxication of live theatre when he was young, an age of 'colossal perfomers'.