Pam Gems

Pam Gems (born 1 August, 1925) is an English playwright considered to be part of the Feminist Theatre group which also includes Caryl Churchill.

Career

Born in Bransgrove, Hampshire, England she studied psychology at the University of Manchester but she didn't start to write professionally until well into her 40s. She is perhaps best known for the 1978 musical play "Piaf" (about Edith Piaf) which originally starred British actress Jane Lapotaire, and later starred Elaine Paige in a 1993 production.

Other plays include 1996's "Stanley" (about the painter Stanley Spencer, starring actor Antony Sher). Many of her plays have feminist themes.

She has been nominated for two Tony Awards, firstly in 1997 for "Stanley" (Best Play), and then in 1999 for "Marlene" (Best Book of a Musical), which starred Welsh actress Sian Phillips as Marlene Dietrich.

Pam has also adapted other works by dramatists ranging from Henrik Ibsen, Federico García Lorca, Anton Chekhov and Marguerite Duras.

List of Works

The Earlky Plays, (1972-1976)

:"(work, year, place first produced)"
* "Betty's Wonderful Christmas" (1972) Cockpit Theatre, London
* "My Warren And After Birthday" (1973) Almost Free Theatre, London
* "Sarah B. Divine" (1973) London
* "Miz Venus and Wild Bill" (1973) Almost Free Theatre, London
* "After Birthday" (1973)
* "The Amiable Courtship Of Miz Venus And Wild Bill" (1974) Almost Free Theatre, London
* "Go West Young Woman" (1974) The Roundhouse, London
* "Up In Sweden" (1975) Haymarket, Leicester
* "My Name Is Rosa Luxembourg (adaptation)" (1975)
* "Up In Sweden" (1975)
* "Rivers and Forests (adaptation)" (1976)
* "Dead Fish" aka Dusa, Fish, Stas And Vi (1976) Edinburgh Festival
* "Guinevere" (1976) Edinburgh Festival
* "The Project" (1976) Soho Poly, London
* "Dusa Fish Stas and Vi" (1976) Edinburgh FestivalThe Middle Plays, (1976-2000)

* "Uncle Vanya" (1978) Hamstead
* "Franz Into April" (1977) ICA, London
* "Queen Christina" (1977) Other Place, Stratford-on-Avon
* "Piaf" (1978) Other Place, Stratford-on-Avon
* "Ladybird, Ladybird" (1979) The King's Head, Islington, London
* "Sandra" (1979) London
* "Aunt Mary" (1982) Warehouse Theatre, London
* "The Treat" (1982) ICA, London
* "The Cherry Orchard" (adaptation)(1984)
* "Variety Night" (1982) London
* "Camille" (adaptaion) (1984)
* "Loving Women" (1984)
* "The Danton Affair" (1986)
* "Pasionaria" (1985) Playhouse Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
* "Arther and Guinevere" (1990) Edinburgh
* "The Seagull" (adaptation) (1991)
* "The Blue Angel" (1991) Other Place, Stratford-on-Avon
* "Deborah's Daughter" (1994) Manchester
* "Ghosts" (adaptation) (1994)
* "Marlene" (1996) Oldham
* "Stanley" (1996) London
* "At the Window" (1997) To be produced
* "The Snow Palace" (1998)
* "Ebba" (1999) To be ProducedThe Late Plays (2000-)

* "Girabaldi, Si!" (2000)
* "Linderhof" (2001) To be produced
* "Mrs Pat" (2002) Theatre Royal, York
* "Yernma" (adaptaion) (2003) Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester
* "Not Joan the Musical" (2003) To be Produced
* "The Lady From The Sea" (adaptation) (2003) Almedia Theatre London
* "Cheri" (2003) To be produced
* "The Little Mermaid" (adaptation) (2004) Grenwich Theatre, Riverside Theatre, London
* "Nelson" (2004) Nuffield Theatre South Hampton
* "Broadway Lady" (2007) To be produced, New York
* "Piaf" (2008) Donmar Warehouse, London

ee also

For a comprehensive analysis of Ms. Gems' work see Dr. Dimple Godiwala's "Queer Mythologies: The Original Stageplays of Pam Gems" (Bristol: Intellect 2006).