Hasty Briefsbeta

Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88

12 days ago
  • #Tom Stoppard
  • #Theatre
  • #Playwright
  • Tom Stoppard, the renowned playwright known for his intellectual and witty works, has died at the age of 88.
  • Stoppard's death was announced by United Agents, with tributes highlighting his brilliance, humanity, and love for the English language.
  • Mick Jagger remembered Stoppard as a 'giant' of theatre, praising his intellect and humor.
  • Nicholas Hytner, who directed Stoppard's play 'The Hard Problem,' spoke of his generosity and curiosity about others' work.
  • West End theatres will dim their lights in remembrance of Stoppard, whose work reshaped modern theatre.
  • Stoppard's influence extended beyond theatre to screenplays, including 'Shakespeare in Love,' for which he won an Oscar.
  • Born in Czechoslovakia, Stoppard fled the Nazis as a child and later moved to England, where he began his career in journalism before turning to playwriting.
  • Stoppard's works often featured improbable juxtapositions, earning him the adjective 'Stoppardian' in the Oxford English Dictionary.
  • Despite his sociable nature, Stoppard was politically conservative, differing from many of his contemporaries.
  • Stoppard's late-period masterpiece 'Leopoldstadt' explored his Jewish origins and the history of a Viennese family.