Edward Bond Biography

Edward Bond, Playwright
Occup.Playwright
FromEngland
BornJuly 18, 1934
Holloway, London, UK
Age90 years
Early Life and Education
Edward Bond was born in Holloway, North London, on July 18, 1934, to working-class parents. His dad was a laborer, and his mom was a domestic servant. He matured amidst the difficulties and strife of World War II, which left a deep influence on his outlook and later works. Bond was educated at Askes' Boys' School and later went to the University of London. Nevertheless, he left before finishing his degree.

Early Career and Influences
After leaving university, Bond began working as a screenwriter for numerous British tv stations, such as ITV and the BBC. During this time, he was exposed to various works of literature and theater, especially the works of William Shakespeare and Bertolt Brecht. These influences would later shape Bond's special style of drama and playwriting.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Bond was also carefully associated with the Angry Young Men movement, a group of British writers who looked for to illustrate the severe realities of post-war England. Key figures within this movement consisted of John Osborne, Kingsley Amis, and Alan Sillitoe, with whom Bond supposedly had a close relationship.

Advancement and Success as a Playwright
Bond's very first play, "The Pope's Wedding", was staged in 1962 at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Nevertheless, it was his 2nd play, "Saved" (1965), which truly thrust him into the spotlight. The play, a harsh critique of modern British society, portrayed the ruthless murder of a baby. Its controversial subject led to the play being banned by the Lord Chamberlain, a decision that was later reversed in a landmark lawsuit. "Saved" is now considered as among the most considerable and cutting-edge plays of the 20th century.

In the years following "Saved", Bond continued to write plays that were identified by their extreme social critique, dark humor, and ruthless depictions of violence. Among them were "Early Morning" (1968), "Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death" (1974, focusing on the last days of Shakespeare), and "The Bundle" (1978). In spite of the crucial success of much of these plays, a number of were under the analysis of censorship authorities at the time.

Bond likewise ventured into the world of opera, working with author Hans Werner Henze on the libretto for "We Come to the River" (1976). The opera was hailed as a significant success and quickly became an important work within the modern opera repertoire.

Later Career and Legacy
In addition to his work as a playwright, Bond directed much of his own plays, both in the UK and worldwide. He likewise composed numerous adaptations and translations, including works by Chekhov, Ibsen, and Euripides. An advocate for political and social change, Bond continued to explore themes such as oppression, social inequality, and war in his later works, including "The War Plays" (1985) and "Olly's Prison" (1993).

Bond has actually mentored a lot of the more youthful generation of playwrights, including Sarah Kane, Mark Ravenhill, and Martin Crimp, who have actually mentioned Bond's impact on their work. Throughout his career, Bond got various awards and honors, including the Obie Award and the PEN International Playwrights' Award.

Now in his late 80s, Edward Bond stays a prominent figure both on the planet of theater and the broader cultural landscape. His courageous and relentless exploration of tough styles has led some to label him as the "Shakespeare of the 20th century", and his work continues to inspire brand-new generations of artists and audiences alike.

Our collection contains 34 quotes who is written / told by Edward.

Related authors: William Shakespeare (Dramatist), Euripides (Poet), Bertolt Brecht (Poet), Kingsley Amis (Novelist), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), John Osborne (Playwright)

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q: Edward Bond Theory
    A: Edward Bond's theory emphasizes social realism, portraying the struggles and issues faced by the working class in society through his plays.
  • Q: Edward Bond Poems
    A: While Edward Bond is mostly known for his plays, he has also written poems that reflect his socio-political views, often published alongside his plays.
  • Q: Edward Bond Lear
    A: 'Lear' by Edward Bond is a radical re-telling of Shakespeare's King Lear, focusing on themes like violence, power, and social issues in a dystopian world.
  • Q: Edward Bond Themes
    A: Edward Bond's main themes include social justice, class struggle, violence, oppression, and the human condition, explored through his plays and writings.
  • Q: How old is Edward Bond?
    A: He is 90 years old
Edward Bond Famous Works:
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34 Famous quotes by Edward Bond

Small: But we are not in the world to be good but to change it
"But we are not in the world to be good but to change it"
Small: Violence is never a solution in my plays, just as ultimately violence is never a solution in human affa
"Violence is never a solution in my plays, just as ultimately violence is never a solution in human affairs"
Small: All you now do is pursue your private objectives within society. Instead of us being a community, every
"All you now do is pursue your private objectives within society. Instead of us being a community, everybody is asked to seek their own personal ends. It's called competition. And competition is antagonism"
Small: In the end I think theatre has only one subject: justice
"In the end I think theatre has only one subject: justice"
Small: Im not interested in an imaginary world
"I'm not interested in an imaginary world"
Small: I think there is no world without theatre
"I think there is no world without theatre"
Small: First there was the theatre of people and animals, then of people and the devil. Now we need the theatr
"First there was the theatre of people and animals, then of people and the devil. Now we need the theatre of people and people"
Small: Violence is hidden within democratic structures because they are not radically democratic - Western dem
"Violence is hidden within democratic structures because they are not radically democratic - Western democracy is merely a domestic convenience of consumerism"
Small: If you engage people on a vital, important level, they will respond
"If you engage people on a vital, important level, they will respond"
Small: Humanitys become a product and when humanity is a product, you get Auschwitz and you get Chair
"Humanity's become a product and when humanity is a product, you get Auschwitz and you get Chair"
Small: The Greeks said very, very extreme things in their tragedies
"The Greeks said very, very extreme things in their tragedies"
Small: Our unconscious is not more animal than our conscious, it is often even more human
"Our unconscious is not more animal than our conscious, it is often even more human"
Small: Its wonderful to be able to sit down and write a play
"It's wonderful to be able to sit down and write a play"
Small: The theatre, our theatre, comes from the Greeks
"The theatre, our theatre, comes from the Greeks"
Small: The one overall structure in my plays is language
"The one overall structure in my plays is language"
Small: Its politely assumed that democracy is a means of containing and restraining violence. But violence com
"It's politely assumed that democracy is a means of containing and restraining violence. But violence comes not from genes but from ideas"
Small: Auschwitz is a place in which tragedy cannot occur
"Auschwitz is a place in which tragedy cannot occur"
Small: At the turn of the century theatre does not have to be prescriptive
"At the turn of the century theatre does not have to be prescriptive"
Small: Art is the close scrutiny of reality and therefore I put on the stage only those things that I know hap
"Art is the close scrutiny of reality and therefore I put on the stage only those things that I know happen in our society"
Small: You have to go to the ultimate situation in drama
"You have to go to the ultimate situation in drama"
Small: Religion enabled society to organise itself to debate goodness, just as Greek drama had once done
"Religion enabled society to organise itself to debate goodness, just as Greek drama had once done"
Small: Now, drama is quite useful at helping us to understand what our position is and, conversely, we might t
"Now, drama is quite useful at helping us to understand what our position is and, conversely, we might then understand why our theatre is being destroyed"
Small: In the past goodness was always a collective experience. Then goodness became privatised
"In the past goodness was always a collective experience. Then goodness became privatised"
Small: The English sent all their bores abroad, and acquired the Empire as a punishment
"The English sent all their bores abroad, and acquired the Empire as a punishment"
Small: Whatever the economy needs to maintain itself, the government will do it
"Whatever the economy needs to maintain itself, the government will do it"
Small: The human mind is a dramatic structure in itself and our society is absolutely saturated with drama
"The human mind is a dramatic structure in itself and our society is absolutely saturated with drama"
Small: Fifteen years ago I walked out of a production of one of my plays at the RSC because I decided it was a
"Fifteen years ago I walked out of a production of one of my plays at the RSC because I decided it was a waste of time"
Small: The truth has got to appear plausible on the stage
"The truth has got to appear plausible on the stage"
Small: Shakespeare has no answers for us at all
"Shakespeare has no answers for us at all"
Small: Im interested in the real world
"I'm interested in the real world"
Small: I write plays not to make money, but to stop myself from going mad. Because its my way of making the wo
"I write plays not to make money, but to stop myself from going mad. Because it's my way of making the world rational to me"
Small: Its insulting to ask a dramatist what his view of his play is. I have no opinion
"It's insulting to ask a dramatist what his view of his play is. I have no opinion"
Small: It seems to me that we are profoundly ignorant of ourselves
"It seems to me that we are profoundly ignorant of ourselves"
Small: I dont think its the job of theatre at the moment to provide political propaganda that would be simplis
"I don't think it's the job of theatre at the moment to provide political propaganda; that would be simplistic. We have to explore our situation further before we will understand it"