Alan Strachan is a noted theatre director, celebrated for his work with playwrights such as Noel Coward and Simon Gray, alongside his productions at the National Theatre. His expertise extends to writing on the craft of acting. He is also a prominent contributor of theatrical obituaries to The Independent, offering insightful reflections on the world of performance. His work provides a valuable lens through which to understand the legacy of stage artists.
This groundbreaking biography by Alan Strachan offers a comprehensive portrait of Vivien Leigh, the iconic actress of the twentieth century. It explores her professional achievements in theatre and film, her tumultuous relationship with Laurence Olivier, and her struggles with bipolar disorder, using newly uncovered sources from her archive.
Utilizing forensic evidence that was ignored by the police, and documents that have never before been released to the public, Alan Strachan has produced the horrific account of a man who was wrongfully executed for rape and murder -- even though it is quite possible that there was neither a rape nor a murder.
Vivien Leigh was perhaps the most iconic actress of the twentieth century. As Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche Du Bois she took on some of the most pivotal roles in cinema history. Yet she was also a talented theatre actress with West End and Broadway plaudits to her name. In this ground-breaking new biography, Alan Strachan provides a completely new full-life portrait of Leigh, covering both her professional and personal life. Using previously unseen sources from her archive, recently acquired by the V&A, he sheds new light on her fractious relationship with Laurence Olivier, based on their letters and diaries, as well as on the bipolar disorder which so affected her later life and work. Revealing new aspects of her early life as well as providing glimpses behind-the-scenes of the filming of Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire, this book provides the essential and comprehensive life-story of one of the twentieth century's greatest actresses. 'A gripping new biography' - The Daily Mail '[Vivien Leigh's] life, lived to the full at every second, will never be better told than it is in these pages' - The Sunday Times 'One of the most revealing showbiz biographies ever' - Sir Ian McKellen 'Enthralling' - Michael Codron 'A wonderful tribute' - Dame Penelope Keith DBE, DL