Add MS 87715-88472

Tynan Archive

87715-88472. Tynan Archive. The private and public correspondence and papers of, and relating to, Kenneth Tynan (b.1927, d.1980), theatre critic and author, first literary manager of the National Theatre, and deviser of the erotic revues Oh! Calcutta! and Carte Blanche, with the papers collected by Kathleen Halton Tynan (b.1937, d.1995), Tynan's second wife, in connection with her biography of her husband and her edition of his letters; 1938-1995, n.d. Partly printed and copies (mostly photocopies). Partly German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Turkish and Czech. Kathleen Tynan’s biography was published as The life of Kenneth Tynan in 1987, and her edition of the letters in 1994. Ken Tynan's diaries were published in 2001, edited by John Lahr; it should be noted that the diaries are not part of this archive and are still in private hands. The later biography by Dominic Shellard, Kenneth Tynan ― a life (2003) has a much greater emphasis on Tynan's work as a theatre critic. Tynan republished much of his writing on the theatre in book form during his lifetime: Curtains (1961); Tynan right and left (1967); A View of the English stage (1976); The Sound of two hands clapping (1975); and Show people (1980). He began work on Profiles (edited by Ernie Eban and Kathleen Tynan, and published in 1989) shortly before his death. Tynan's collected writings on the theatre were unavailable for some years before the appearance of Kenneth Tynan ― Theatre writings, edited by Dominic Shellard, Tom Stoppard, and Matthew Tynan, and a new edition of Profiles in 2007. Tynan's other books include He that plays the king (1950); Persona grata (1953); Alec Guinness (1953); and Bull fever (1955); papers relating to most of these books can be found in the archive. The British Library Sound Archive possesses a copy of the original cast recording of Oh! Calcutta!, reference number 1LP0219842. Purchased from Kathleen Tynan in March 1994.

Paper. Seven hundred and fifty-eight volumes. British Library arrangement, as follows:

A. Personal papers: 87715-87727.

B. Correspondence: 87728-87748.

C. Working manuscripts: 87749-87836.

D. Scripts: 87837-87877.

E. National Theatre papers: 87878-87935.

F. 'Oh! Calcutta!' papers: 87936-87951.

G. 'Carte Blanche' papers: 87952-87961.

H. Wilhelm Reich biography: 87962-88010.

I. Press Cuttings: 88011-88069.

J. The 'That Word' files: 88070-88079.

K. Souvenirs: 88080-88102.

L. Tynan's posthumous reputation: 88103-88116.

M. Research materials for Tynan biography: 88117-88472.