Coram Boy
Encyclopedia
Coram Boy is a very successful children's novel by Jamila Gavin
. Published in 2000
, it won Gavin a Whitbread Children's Book Award. The story follows a wide range of characters, from the rich Alexander Ashbrook to Toby, a young boy saved from an African slave ship
, as their lives become closely involved with an authentic episode of British social history. It is an epic adventure which sheds light on a hidden part of the eighteenth century, cruelty to children. The innovative work of the Foundling Hospital continues today and is carried out by the charity that still bears the founder's name, Coram.
,with music by Adrian Sutton, and played for two runs on the Olivier Stage at the National Theatre
in 2005-2006 and 2006–2007, also having a brief Broadway
production in 2007.
Coram Boy was nominated for four Olivier Awards in 2006: for Best New Play (Helen Edmundson), Best Director (Melly Still), Best Sound Design (Christopher Shutt), and Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Paul Ritter).
The play received a number of Tony Award
, Drama Desk Award
and Outer Critics Circle Award
nominations, and a Theatre World Award
for Xanthe Elbrick in 2007.
Coram Boy was re-staged in 2011 by Bristol Old Vic
at Colston Hall
, again directed by Melly Still
, and featuring a cast, choir and orchestra from around Bristol
.
Jamila Gavin
Jamila Gavin is a British writer born in Mussoorie, India in the foothills of the Himalayas.Her father was Indian and her mother English...
. Published in 2000
2000 in literature
The year 2000 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* February 13 - Final original Peanuts comic strip is published...
, it won Gavin a Whitbread Children's Book Award. The story follows a wide range of characters, from the rich Alexander Ashbrook to Toby, a young boy saved from an African slave ship
Slave ship
Slave ships were large cargo ships specially converted for the purpose of transporting slaves, especially newly purchased African slaves to Americas....
, as their lives become closely involved with an authentic episode of British social history. It is an epic adventure which sheds light on a hidden part of the eighteenth century, cruelty to children. The innovative work of the Foundling Hospital continues today and is carried out by the charity that still bears the founder's name, Coram.
Stage adaptation
The book was adapted for the stage by Helen EdmundsonHelen Edmundson
Helen Edmundson is a British playwright particularly well-known for her adaptations of various literary classics for the stage.Edmundson's first play Flying was produced at the National Theatre Studio in 1990...
,with music by Adrian Sutton, and played for two runs on the Olivier Stage at the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
in 2005-2006 and 2006–2007, also having a brief Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production in 2007.
Coram Boy was nominated for four Olivier Awards in 2006: for Best New Play (Helen Edmundson), Best Director (Melly Still), Best Sound Design (Christopher Shutt), and Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Paul Ritter).
The play received a number of Tony Award
61st Tony Awards
The 61st Annual Tony Awards were held on June 10, 2007 at Radio City Music Hall, with CBS television broadcasting the ceremony live. As at the 2006 Tony awards, there was no host and the show was emceed by the presenters...
, Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
and Outer Critics Circle Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on and Off-Broadway and were begun during the 1949-1950 theater season. The awards are decided upon by theater critics who review for out-of-town newspapers, national publications, and other media outlets...
nominations, and a Theatre World Award
Theatre World Award
The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
for Xanthe Elbrick in 2007.
Coram Boy was re-staged in 2011 by Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
at Colston Hall
Colston Hall
The Colston Hall is a concert hall and grade II listed building situated on Colston Street, Bristol, England. A popular venue catering for a variety of different entertainers, it seats approximately 2,075 and provides licensed bars, a café and restaurant....
, again directed by Melly Still
Melly Still
Melly Still is a British director, designer and choreographer.She has worked as designer and co-director on many productions including the RSC's version of Tales from Ovid and Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie at the Royal National Theatre.She often works closely with the designer Ti...
, and featuring a cast, choir and orchestra from around Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.