Harold Pinter

Harold Pinter, CH, CBE (born October 10, 1930) is an English playwright and theatre director. He has written for theatre, radio, television and film. His early work is often associated with the theatre of the absurd.

New directions

He began to direct more frequently during the 1970s, becoming an associate director of the National Theatre in 1973. His later plays tend to be shorter, and on subjects which might be thought of as more political, often appearing to be allegories on oppression. It was around the 1970s that Pinter began to be more vocal on political matters, taking a distinctly left-wing stance. He continually strives to bring human rights violations and oppression to the public's attention. Letters from Pinter often appear in Britain's newspapers, such as The Guardian and The Independent.

Related Topics:
1970s - National Theatre - 1973 - Political - Left-wing - Human rights - The Guardian - The Independent

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In 1985 he travelled to Turkey with the American playwright Arthur Miller and met many victims of political oppression there. At an American embassy function honouring Miller, instead of exchanging pleasantries, Pinter spoke of people having an electric current applied to their genitals—which got him thrown out. (Miller, in support, left the embassy with him.) Pinter's experience of oppression in Turkey and the suppression of the Kurdish language inspired his 1988 play Mountain Language.

Related Topics:
1985 - Turkey - American - Arthur Miller - Embassy - Kurdish language - 1988 - Mountain Language

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In 1999 he became an outspoken critic of the NATO bombing of Kosovo. He also opposed the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and 2003 Invasion of Iraq. In 2005 he announced that he was retiring from writing plays to dedicate himself to political campaigning.

Related Topics:
1999 - U.S. invasion of Afghanistan - 2003 Invasion of Iraq - 2005

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He was appointed CBE in 1966 and became a Companion of Honour in 2002, having previously declined a knighthood. He is a supporter of the RESPECT coalition.

Related Topics:
CBE - 1966 - Companion of Honour - 2002 - RESPECT

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