Paul Scofield Collection

The collection consists of scripts used by Paul Scofield during his career on stage, in film and on the radio, correspondence files spanning the period of his career, which also include other related documents. Other material includes photographs, press cuttings, programmes, audio recordings and video recordings, awards, certificates, posters, playbills, costume designs and other artworks.

Paul Scofield (1922-2008) was educated at Varndean School for boys, Croydon Repertory School and the London Mask Theatre School. He started his stage career in the 1940s, unable to sign up due to medical reasons. He's career which soon became synonymous with Classical theatre began first with the Eileen Thorndike and Herbert Scott Group and secondly the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Further on in his career Scofield worked closely with the Royal Shakespeare Company for a number of years as well as The National Theatre, his roles were numerous and diverse. Some of his most notable performances included King Lear, I am not Rapport, Volpone and The Madra's house. Beyond the theatre Scofield won acclaim through a number of films including 'A Man For All Seasons'(1966) and 'Expresso Bongo'(1958), as well as copious amounts of audiobooks and plays for BBC radio. Throughout his career Scofield was nominated for a number of awards but it was for his roles in the films 'Man For All Seasons'(1966) through which he won an Oscar and 'The Crucible' (1996) where he won a BAFTA for best supporting role. Alongside his awards in theatre Paul Scofield was also awarded a number of honorary degrees from universities including the University of St Andrews and Sussex University; in 1956 he received a CBE and in 2000 he was made a Companion of Honour. In 1943 Scofield married the actress Joy Parker, they had two children, Martin and Sarah Scofield.

The collection is arranged in the following series:

• THM/397/1 - Scripts, readings and speeches

• THM/397/2 - Correspondence and other papers

• THM/397/3 - Photographs

• THM/397/4 - Press and marketing

• THM/397/5 - Audio material

• THM/397/6 - Audio visual material

• THM/397/7 - Awards, certificates and trophies

• THM/397/8 - Posters and playbills

• THM/397/9 - Artworks and designs

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Blythe House Archive and Library Study Room by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

This collection was appraised in line with the collection management policy.

No further accruals are expected.

See also the core collections of the V&A Theatre and Performance Department. Material relating to Paul Scofield and Joy Parker in general may be found in several collections, including the biographical, productions, company and photographs files.

Please ask for details.

Also see the BBC Sound Archives for recordings of his radio and television appearances.