Terence Rattigan (1911 – 1977) was an English playwright and screenwriter, celebrated for his contributions to mid‑20th‑century theatre. His works are noted for their emphasis on character, refined dialogue, and themes of social restraint and personal repression.
Early life and education
- Born on 5 June 1911 in Southsea, Hampshire, England.
- Son of a retired Royal Navy officer.
- Educated at Winchester College and later at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
Career
- Began as a playwright in the late 1930s, achieving early success with French Without Tears (1937), a comedy set in a language school.
- Notable post‑war plays include The Winslow Boy (1946), The Browning Version (1948), The Deep Blue Sea (1952), and Separate Tables (1954, co‑written with John Perry). These works often explored the emotional constraints of the British middle class.
- Adapted several of his plays for film, and wrote original screenplays such as The Million Pound Note (1954) and The Love of Seven Dolls (1964).
- In the 1960s, his prominence declined amid shifting theatrical tastes, but he later received a revival of interest, particularly after the 2000s productions of The Browning Version and Separate Tables.
Personal life
- Rattigan was homosexual; during his lifetime he concealed his sexuality due to prevailing social attitudes and legal constraints in the United Kingdom.
- Married novelist and actress Phyllis Gardiner in 1939; the marriage ended in separation in the early 1950s.
Later years and legacy
- Received a knighthood in 1975 for services to drama.
- Died of a heart attack on 9 August 1977 in Sussex, England.
- Posthumously, his plays have been reassessed as significant contributions to modern British theatre, influencing later dramatists and being regularly revived in the West End and on Broadway.
Selected bibliography
- French Without Tears (1937)
- The Winslow Boy (1946)
- The Browning Version (1948)
- The Deep Blue Sea (1952)
- Separate Tables (1954, with John Perry)
- The Substitute (1960)
Awards and honors
- Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play (1947) for The Winslow Boy.
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1952.
- Knighthood (Knight Bachelor), 1975.
Rattigan remains a major figure in 20th‑century British drama, noted for his articulate portrayal of personal and societal conflict.
