Berkoff is currently appearing in his own production of On the Waterfront at the West End's Theatre Royal, Haymarket.
The Theatre Book Prize, presented by the Society for Theatre Research, was first awarded for 1997 to celebrate the organization's jubilee. It was created to encourage the writing and publication of books on theatre history and practice, both those that present the theatre of the past and those which record contemporary theatre for the future. It is now presented annually for a book on theatre, which an independent panel of judges considers to be the best published during the year. All new works of original research first published in English are eligible except for play texts and studies of drama as literature.
This year's shortlist comprises:
This year's judging panel includes Professor Katherine Newey, director of post graduate studies in the department of theatre at the University of Birmingham and the author and editor of books and articles, especially on 19th-century theatre; Omar Okai, choreographer and director of plays, working across musicals, revue and pantomimes as well as dramatic theatre; and Ian Shuttleworth, theatre critic of the Financial Times and editor of Theatre Record. The panel is chaired by Howard Loxton for the Society for Theatre Research, who votes only if there is a tie.
