Kenneth Peacock Tynan (1927-1980), Writer and critic
Sitter in 18 portraits
Theatre critic. Born in Birmingham, the illegitimate son of a Midlands magnate, Tynan won a scholarship to Oxford from King Edward's School. He began his career with the Evening Standard. From 1954 to 1963 he wrote for the Observer, championing dramatists such as Osborne, Wesker, and Delaney, and the poetic drama of Eliot and Fry. He popularised Brecht and the Theatre of the Absurd in the work of Simpson and Beckett. A socialist and campaigner for nuclear disarmament, Tynan took on the Lord Chamberlain's Office in its role as theatre censor, notably with his revue Oh! Calcutta! (1969). He was the first literary manager of the National Theatre.
by Daniel Farson
semi-matte bromide print, 1950s
NPG x25197
Kenneth Peacock Tynan with his daughter Tracy Tynan
by Elsbeth R. Juda
archival digital print, 1953
NPG x132540
Cecil Beaton; Kenneth Peacock Tynan
by Paul Tanqueray
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x40492
Cecil Beaton; Kenneth Peacock Tynan
by Paul Tanqueray
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x40491
Cecil Beaton; Kenneth Peacock Tynan
by Paul Tanqueray
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x40490
Kenneth Peacock Tynan; Cecil Beaton
by Paul Tanqueray
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x40489
Cecil Beaton; Kenneth Peacock Tynan
by Paul Tanqueray
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x40488
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, circa 1956
NPG x14225
by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, late 1950s
NPG x125499
by Ida Kar
vintage contact sheet, late 1950s
NPG x125500
by Ida Kar
vintage contact sheet, late 1950s
NPG x125501
by Ida Kar
vintage contact sheet, late 1950s
NPG x125502
Kenneth Peacock Tynan, Nicol Williamson
- Larger Image
- Use this image
- Recent acquisition
by Jurgen Schadeberg
silver print, 1968
NPG x137290
Kenneth Peacock Tynan; Harold Pinter
- Larger Image
- Use this image
- Recent acquisition
by Jurgen Schadeberg
silver print, 1968
NPG x137293
Literature, Journalism and Publishing
Groups
Angry young men
Writers and critics
Writers and critics
Place
West Midlands
Thematic collections
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