Pete Shaw

"For the football player of the same name see Pete Shaw (football player)."

Infobox Writer
name = Pete Shaw


imagesize =
caption =
pseudonym =
birthdate = birth date and age|1966|12|02
birthplace = Isleworth, London
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = journalist, technical writer
nationality = British
period = 1982—
genre =
subject = Computing & Theatre
movement =
influences = Tim Hartnell
influenced =


website =

Pete Shaw (born 2 December 1966 in Isleworth, London) is a British author, broadcaster, programmer and theatrical producer.

Early life

Shaw attended school in Stanwell, Middlesex. It was while at Stanwell Secondary School that he was introduced by a school friend to Tim Hartnell, the co-owner of Interface Publication, the other owner being his school friend's mother, Sue North.

His first published computer programme was "The Elephant's Graveyard", written for the Sinclair ZX81 and published in the magazine "ZX Computing" in August 1982. [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/type-ins/zx-comp/zx_names.htm The Type In Fantastic] , "Jim Grimwood". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.]

Career

Shaw's first book, "Games for your ZX Spectrum", [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr06/yr06_47.htm YS Paperdata] , "Phil Cornes and Mike Turner". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] followed at the end of 1982 and was published by Virgin Books in conjunction with Interface Publications and was an early title in a series of "Games For Your. .." books published by Virgin. Shaw himself wrote three more books for the series, including "Games for your Oric", [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourSpectrum/Issue13/Pages/YourSpectrum1300012.jpgConcurrent Affairs] , "John Torofex". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] "More Games for your Oric" and "Games for your Sinclair QL". [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue036/Pages/SinclairUser03600011.jpgSinclair User] , "QL News". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] Shaw also co-wrote two books designed to teach the adventure game genre, "Creating Adventures on your ZX Spectrum" (Interface Publications, 1983) [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=MicroAdventurer/Issue11/Pages/MicroAdventurer1100029.jpgMicro Adventure] , "John Fraser". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] and "Creating Adventure on your BBC Micro" (Interface Publications, 1985).

Shaw's books mainly comprised "Type-In" programme listings for home computers, which were designed to teach-as-you-type, [http://blogs.igalia.com/berto/2007/01/08/my-first-programming-book/ My First Programming Book] , "Alberto Garcia". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] since the programmes contained many comments on how the listing worked.

Before he even left school, Shaw was a regular contributor to ZX Computing and Home Computer Weekly, and on leaving Stanwell Secondary School he turned down a sought after place at Isleworth Art College to work full-time for the newly-launched computer magazine "Your Spectrum".

It was at Your Spectrum (which later was relaunched as "Your Sinclair" [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/ Your Spectrum Unofficial Archive] , "Jim Grimwood". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] ) that Shaw picked up the nickname "Troubleshootin' Pete" due to his regular column in the magazine in which he would answer reader questions that had been posed over the "YS Helpline". Shaw's official title at "Your Sinclair" was Editorial Assistant when he first joined, but he was promoted to Deputy Editor within a year of joining the staff.

"Your Sinclair" was published by Dennis Publishing, and Shaw also contributed to other Dennis magazines including "Your 64", "Computer Shopper" and "MacUser".

While still Deputy Editor of "Your Sinclair", Shaw also contributed to a weekly Capital Radio children's show called "XYZ On Air", broadcast every Sunday and hosted by DJ Kelly Temple. The show was an eclectic mix of music, interviews, features and the 'Computerworld' slot hosted by Pete Shaw. It was Shaw's association with Capital Radio that brought about, "The Capital Radio Book of Computers and Simple Programming" (NeatQuest, 1985), [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourSpectrum/Issue14/Pages/YourSpectrum1400006.jpgYS Frontlines] , "Your Spectrum". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.] co-written with Kelly Temple and Your Spectrum's original Editor, Roger Munford.

Before 1985 was out, Shaw had written at least eleven computer technical books, published around the world and in several languages.

Bibliography

*"Games for your ZX Spectrum" (Virgin Books, 1982) ISBN 0-907080-84-7 [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=^Games+for+Your+ZX+Spectrum$&pub=^Virgin+Books$&loadpics=on World of Spectrum] , "worldofspectrum.org". URL last accessed on 2007-03-20.]
**Re-released as "Spiele für Ihren ZX Spectrum" (Huber, Germany), "Spelletjes voor Je ZX Spectrum deel 1" (Netherlands), "Games for your Timex-Sinclair 2000" (Dell, USA) ISBN 0-4404527-94-5, "Giochiamo con ZX Spectrum" [http://opac.provincia.bergamo.it/UOL/opac/opac.jsp?Fase=Isbd&cod_notizia=AL00012781&Titolo=*Giochiamo%20con%20ZX%20Spectrum&bibGest= Bergamo] , "bergamo.it". URL last accessed on 2007-04-05.] (Giochi Elettronici, Italy) ISBN 88-7605-118-1
*"Games for your Oric" (Virgin Books, 1983) ISBN 0-907080-91-X
*"Getting Started on your Oric" (Futura Publishing, 1983) ISBN 0-7088244-71
*"Creating Adevntures on the ZX Spectrum" (Interface Publications, 1983) ISBN 0-907563-58-9
**Re-released as "Fantastische Avonturen voor je ZX Spectrum deel 1" (Netherlands), "Novas Aventuras no Seu ZX Spectrum" (Editorial Presenca, Portugal)
*"More Games for your Oric" (Virgin Books, 1984) ISBN 0-863690-34-3
*"Games for your Sinclair QL" (Virgin Books, 1984) ISBN 0-86369-078-5
*"More Games for your Sinclair QL" (Virgin Books, 1984) [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=^More+Games+for+Your+Sinclair+QL$&pub=^Virgin+Books$&loadpics=on World of Spectrum] , "worldofspectrum.org". URL last accessed on 2007-03-20.]
*"Games QL Computers Play" (Corgi Books, 1985) [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=^Games+QL+Computers+Play$&pub=^Corgi$&loadpics=on World of Spectrum] , "worldofspectrum.org". URL last accessed on 2007-03-20.]
*"Creating Adevntures on your BBC Micro" (Interface Publications, 1985) ISBN 0-907563-64-3
*"Fantastic Adventures for your ZX Spectrum" (Interface Publications, 1985)
*"The Capital Radio Book of Computers and Computer Programming" (NeatQuest, 1985) ISBN 0-947695-26-5
*"The V-Book: The Complete Guide to Flying with Virgin Atlantic" (V-Flyer, 2004)

ince 2002

In 2002 Shaw produced Patrick Wilde's play "You Couldn't Make It Up" at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh. The show was Wilde's follow up to "What's Wrong With Angry?", which had debuted a decade earlier at the Lost Theatre in London. [http://www.wildjustice.org/ Wild Justice] , "wildjustice.org". URL last accessed on 2007-03-20.] "You Couldn't Make It Up" was a black comedy dealing with issues of sexuality, the agendas of TV and film production and male rape. The year after its premiere in Edinburgh, Shaw brought the show down to the New End Theatre, Hampstead, London in 2003. [http://www.indielondon.co.uk/theatre/t_youcouldnt_makeitup_rev.html Indie London] , "Paul Nelson". URL last accessed on 2007-03-22.]

In 2006 Shaw collaborated with Sir Tim Rice to produce his musical Blondel at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington. [http://theinternetforum.co.uk/node/1694 Tim Rice's Blondel - Abi Finley and Chris Grierson prepare for curtain up] , "Jill Hallworth-Smith". URL last accessed on 2007-03-19.] Blondel was the first musical Rice wrote outside of his successful working partnership with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Telling the tale of medieval ministrel, Blondel, the musical is set in two acts. Shaw also created the poster artwork for revival of Blondel.

In May 2008 Shaw took a new play by Matt Ian Kelly called Lightning Strikes to Dublin as part of the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival [http://gaytheatre.ticketsolve.com/events/events_for_show/500513 Lightning Strikes] , "Dublin Gay Theatre Festival". URL last accessed on 2008-05-01.] .

Shaw is currently Editor of the Internet publication Broadway Baby [http://www.broadwaybaby.com] , a reviews-based website particularly focused on fringe theatre. He also edits the Virgin Atlantic customer site, V-Flyer.com [http://www.v-flyer.com] , which regularly receives over 150,000 readers per month. [http://www.v-flyer.com/advertising.asp V-Flyer Stats] , "v-flyer.com". URL last accessed on 2007-03-19.]

He continues to write computer programmes on a freelance basis.

Theatrical Productions

*"You Couldn't Make It Up" (The Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh 2002) Producer
*"You Couldn't Make It Up" (New End Theatre, London 2003) Producer
*"Diana & Ross" (The Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh 2004) Graphic Designer
*"Blondel" (Pleasance Islington, London 2006) Co-Producer with Tim Rice
*"Lightning Strikes" (Project Arts Centre, Dublin 2008) Producer
*"Boys Of The Empire" (C venues, Edinburgh 2008) Co-Producer with Glenn Chandler
*"What's Wrong With Angry?" (C venues, Edinburgh 2008) Co-Producer with Glenn Chandler

References

External links

* [http://www.ysrnry.co.uk The YS Rock 'N' Roll Years] — Unofficial site, dedicated to archiving games reviews and feature articles from the magazine.
* [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/ YRUA? The "Your Spectrum" Unofficial Archive] — Archive of articles from "Your Sinclair"'s forerunner, "Your Spectrum".
* [http://www.yoursinclair.co.uk "Your Sinclair": A Celebration] — Fan-written website detailing both YS and YS-related material.
* [http://www.broadwaybaby.com "Broadway Baby"] — Theatrical Reviews Site
* [http://www.blondelmusical.com "Blondel"] — Revival of the Tim Rice musical in 2006

Persondata
NAME=Shaw, Pete
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=British author, broadcaster, programmer and theatrical producer
DATE OF BIRTH=2 December 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH= Isleworth, London, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH=living
PLACE OF DEATH=