Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, and former MP who, over forty years, has worked in the theatre as an actor and producer. On stage he has appeared in pantomime, in Shakespeare, in The Importance of Being Earnest, and in his own musical revue in the West End. In Edinburgh he has won the Most Popular Show at the Fringe Award and multiple 5 star reviews and taken his acclaimed one-man show to more than a hundred UK theatres. On stage, radio, TV, and in print he has interviewed most of the leading theatre personalities of our time. His books include a history of pantomime and biographies of Sir John Gielgud and Dan Leno. Best known as a reporter on The One Show on BBC1 and a regular on Radio 4's Just A Minute, he has appeared on Have I Got News For You, QI and Countdown. He is the editor of the Oxford Book of Humorous Quotations, president of the Oscar Wilde Society, founder of the national Poetry Together project, and Chancellor of the University of Chester.
Completely brilliant. Gyles knows all the best theatre stories and he has collected them just for us. What a treat! * Dame Judi Dench * The ever wonderful Gyles Brandreth edits this joyous and hugely entertaining new anthology of theatrical anecdotes... a comprehensive, revealing, and hugely entertaining portrait of the world of theatre across four hundred years. * The Arts Shelf * ...provides a fascinating perspective on the history of British (and sometimes American or Australian) theatre... there's so much to enjoy here: it really is a book that keeps on giving, and will keep the reader happily dipping in and out for many weeks... * Shiny New Books * Funny, cringe-worthy, witty and wise, it's the perfect book for theatre-goers. * Surrey Life * Brandreth is always reliably funny... * Literary Review * ... a chunky tome of a book containing scrupulously researched snippets of amusing theatrical chat... The prologue to the book is a mini masterpiece in itself and demonstrates with a quiet strenth and a familiar humour, the depth of Brandreth's love for the theatre and his remarkable insight into it... makes you smile, wonder and sympathise... * Sandra Callard, ON-Yorkshire Magazine * ... cracker of a book... with theatres closed because of coronavirus, The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes is about as close to a play we can get at the moment and it is well worth the admission price. * Sunday Express * It is impossible to do justice here to the fullness of Brandreth's bran tub. It's a hamper of a book, overflowing with delights and the odd occasion for serious reflection... * Simon Callow, The Sunday Times *