John Osborne

Sitterback to top

• John (James) Osborne (1929-1994), Playwright, autobiographer and actor. Sitter in 19 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Daniel Farson (1927-1997), Photographer and writer. Artist of 47 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Osborne's first play Look Back in Anger (1956) staged at the Royal Court Theatre became a seminal work, changing the course of British theatre. Farson, who had become friends with Colin Wilson, author of The Outsider was inspired to write about literature's Post-War Generation for the Daily Mail, 'In the theatre, this cynical post-war type is exemplified by John Osborne's angry young man Jimmy Porter.' Osborne told Farson why he thought the play had caused such controversy, 'it's about real people and audiences aren't used to seeing that.'

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Famous in the Fifties: Photographs by Daniel Farson (19 April 2012 - 16 September 2012)

Subject/Themeback to top

• Contact Sheets