Special New Edition of The Good Companions

We are pleased to announce that in October 2007 J.B. Priestley's biggest selling and most successful novel will return.

The book will be the second in the Rediscovering Priestley series by Great Northern Books.

First published in 1929 in a time of deepening economic gloom and worldwide political unrest The Good Companions won The James Tate Black Memorial Prize for fiction, caught the public’s imagination and became a publishing phenomenon. Vigorous, optimistic and at times supremely comic it is also an exploration of English life, reaching deep into the decaying towns, dingy seaside lodging houses, market fairs and fading traditions of the 1920s. An England Priestley knew better than any other author of his day.

This special edition comes with forewords by Dame Judi Dench and Tom Priestley; first and last words by Barry Cryer and Alan Plater; an illustrated biographical background and an exploration of the book’s major screen and stage adaptations with contributions from Ronald Harwood, Jan Francis, Janette Scott, John Fraser, Jeremy Nicholas, Judy Cornwell and Simon Green.

'One of the great popular novels of the 20th Century.' Paul Johnson, The Spectator

'A wonderful Story' Dame Judi Dench

Available from the publisher Great Northern Books on 01274 735056 www.greatnorthernbooks.co.uk or from all good retail and online outlets.

Latest news: Special 60th Anniversary Edition of Bright Day

We are pleased to announce that in October 2006 one J.B. Priestley's most accomplished and succesful novels will once more be in print

First appearing in 1946, J.B. Priestley’s Bright Day was a huge critical and popular success. Its message of hope and promise echoed the expectations of a nation after the long dark years of war. It is a message that still resonates with our own troubled and changing times. This sixtieth anniversary edition opens this wise, moving and optimistic book to a new generation and comes with a biography of Priestley, forewords by Tom Priestley and Margaret Drabble, a literary tour and unique contributions from many leading names in literature, art, politics and drama.

Among those contributing are: Margaret Drabble, Melvyn Bragg, Alan Plater, Alan Bennett, Beryl Bainbridge, Michael Foot, Paul Johnson, Sir Alan Ayckbourn and Tony Benn.

Bright Day is a gripping and readable novel, with a powerful page-turning plot.’ Margaret Drabble

Available from the publisher Great Northern Books on 01274 735056 www.greatnorthernbooks.co.uk or from all good retail and online outlets recommended retail price £14.99

Plans are afoot to follow the successful reprint of this important book with others over the next few years, plus the publication for the first time of J.B.Priestley’s letters home from the army in the First World War along with the complete Postscripts, which captivated the nation at the start of the Second World War. Further details will follow.

Oberon Books have now published 3 theatrical titles:
Collected Plays Vol.I (Three comedies: comedies - Laburnum Grove; When We Are Married; Mr Kettle & Mrs Moon) Collected Plays Vol.II (3 dramas: They Came to a City; Summer Day's Dream; The Glass Cage)
The Art of the Dramatist (An anthology of writings about the Theatre)
All three with introductions by Tom Priestley & are available in bookshops.
Also available from Oberon are three playtexts: Johnson Over Jordan, Dangerous Corner & Eden End
Oberon.books@btinternet.com

Also in print is the Penguin edition of An Inspector Calls & Other Plays
And educational editions of An Inspector Calls.

Acting editions of most of the plays are available from Samuel French

A collection of the books by J.B.Priestley is now available for research at the Special Collections of the University of London Library, Senate House, Malet Street; the books can only be viewed at the Library, and there is a fee payable; however members of the J.B.Priestley Society can use the facility free of charge, on production of proof of membership – a good enough reason to join the Society!

TFG Theatre Company present local J B Priestley production

Newly formed local amateur dramatic group, TFG Theatre Company, will be presenting their latest production of J B Priestley's classic drama 'An Inspector Calls' at The Titchfield Parish Rooms on 4, 5, 11 and 12 May 07.

Produced by the theatre group's three founder members, Georgie Gulliford, Becky James and Sue Ellis-Sanford, the production will give local theatre goers the opportunity to see a high quality and entertaining drama featuring the classic and popular J B Priestley play, literally on their doorstep. The production will be brought to life in the intimate environment of the Titchfield Parish Rooms, with an audience capacity of just 70.

'An Inspector Calls' is set in 1912. As the Birlings celebrate their daughter's engagement to Gerald Croft, the mysterious Inspector Goole arrives with news of a tragic suicide. Through his interrogation, the family must one by one, reveal their link to the victim. Set in the Birling's drawing room, with a cast of seven in authentic Edwardian costume, the production's central theme of 'responsibility' leaves the audience considering some important questions.

TFG Theatre Company was created in 2006, and consists of a small group of passionate and talented local drama enthusiasts, some of whom will be known and recognised from their time with the Titchfield Festival Theatre. Following TFG's successful production of Noel Coward's 'Blithe Spirit' last November, the group's aim is to continue to provide a local audience with a high standard of amateur dramatic production, producing a mix of classic and appealing plays to cater for a wide age range.

Each of the four performances in May commences at 8pm. Tickets are now on sale at £7.00 (no concessions) and can be booked by ringing the TFG Theatre Company Box Office on 07790 859444.

For more information on TFG Theatre Company and their production of 'An Inspector Calls' please contact Jennie Saul, PR Manager on jennie64@hotmail.com or telephone 07890 592730.

Production dates and times:

Titchfield Parish Rooms, Southampton Hill, Titchfield, Fareham (parking nearby)

Cast

AN INSPECTOR CALLS: A Spanish production opens on March 23rd 2007 at Theatre Palacio de Festivales, Santander

I Have Been Here Before will be performed at Nottingham Playhouse from April 26th till May 12th 2007

DANGEROUS CORNER by J.B. Priestley. Producer Ian Dickens Productions.

The Grove Theatre, Dunstable :: Monday 7th to Saturday 12th May. TBA :: Monday 14th to Saturday 19th May. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford :: Monday 21st to Saturday 26th May. TBA :: Monday 28th May to Saturday 2nd June. The Connaught Theatre, Worthing :: Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th June. The Civic Theatre, Darlington :: Tuesday 12th to Saturday 16th June. The Garrick Theatre, Lichfield :: Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd June. TBA :: Monday 25th to Saturday 30th June. TBA :: Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th July. TBA :: Monday 9th to Saturday 14th July. TBA :: Monday 16th to Saturday 21st July. TBA :: Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th July. The Grand Theatre, Leeds :: Monday 30th July to Saturday 4th August. TBA :: Monday 6th to Saturday 11th August. The Grand Theatre, Swansea :: Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th August. The Mercury Theatre, Colchester :: Monday 20th to Saturday 25th August. TBA :: Monday 27th August to Saturday 1st September. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham :: Monday 3rd to Saturday 8th September. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage :: Tuesday 11th to Saturday 15th September. TBA :: Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd September. TBA :: Monday 24th to Saturday 29th September

Productions & Tours of other plays are being considered