Levy, Benn W. (Benn Wolfe), 1900-1973

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Playwright and theatre director, Benn Wolfe Levy (1900-1974) was born in London and educated at Repton School and University College, Oxford. He served in the Royal Air Force in 1918 and in the Royal Navy in the Second World War. In 1945 he was elected Labour Member of Parliament for Eton and Slough which he represented until 1950, when he returned to writing for the theatre. While in parliament he introduced a Private Member's Bill to abolish the Lord Chamberlain's censorship of the theatre which, although unsuccessful for procedural reasons in 1949, was effectively passed 18 years later. He served on the Executive of the Arts Council from 1953 to 1961 and was Chairman of the League of British Dramatists for the following four years. Other causes with which he was associated include the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the National Council for Civil Liberties. The contents of this archive fully reflect his involvement with justice for the theatre and concern with civil rights.

From the guide to the The Benn W. Levy Papers, 1945-1973, (University of Sussex Library)

Epithet: MP, playwright

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000613.0x0000f8

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Ruth and Augustus Goetz papers, 1930-1966 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Levy, Benn W. (Benn Wolfe), 1900-1973. If I were you, by Benn W. Levy and Paul Hervey Fox. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Federal Theatre Project scripts, 1935-1939 USC Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Owen Hale Collection, 1953-1992 V & A Department of Theatre and Performance
creatorOf Levy, Benn W. (Benn Wolfe), 1900-1973. Mrs. Moonlight; a play in three acts. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Hitchcock, Alfred, 1899-1980. Agent secret : sabotage / Alfred Hitchcock, réal., adapt. ; Charles Bennet, scénario ; Ian Hay, Helen Simpson, E.V.H. Hemmet, dial. ; Joseph Conrad, aut. adapté ; Sylvia Sidney, Oscar Homolka, Desmond Tester... [et al.], act. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Herbert M. Prentice papers, 1925-1960 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Anti-Apartheid Movement. Correspondence and papers of Freda Troup (Mrs Leon Levson) writer and anti-apartheid activist (b. 1911, d. 2004), relating to an Anti-Apartheid Movement campaign to encourage writers and playwrights to withdraw rights to hav..., 1958-1963 British Library
creatorOf CUNNINGHAM PAPERS. Vol. VI (ff. 219). 1. ff. 1-95. Letters of Admiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan, 1st Bart.; 1939-1955. 2. ff. 96-151. Correspondence with Admiral Sir John Henry Dacres Cunningham; 1941-1960. 3. ff. 152-219. Correspondence with Admiral Si..., 1939-1960 British Library
creatorOf The Benn W. Levy Papers, 1945-1973 University of Sussex Library
referencedIn The Benn W. Levy Papers, 1945-1973 University of Sussex Library
creatorOf Hitchcock, Alfred, 1899-1980. Agent secret : sabotage / Alfred Hitchcock, réal., adapt. ; Charles Bennet, scénario ; Ian Hay, Helen Simpson, E.V.H. Hemmet, dial. ; Joseph Conrad, aut. adapté ; Sylvia Sidney, Oscar Homolka, Desmond Tester... [et al.], act. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf MARGARET GARDINER PAPERS. Vol. II (ff. 204). Correspondence and papers; 1966. 1. ff. 1-106. Labour voters' protest on Vietnam; April 1966. 2. ff. 107-204. Protest meeting at Jeanetta Cochrane Theatre; July 1966.includes:ff. 2, 198 Sir Alfred Jules ..., 1966 British Library
creatorOf Levy, Benn W. (Benn Wolfe), 1900-1973. "Studio one" presents "Mrs. Moonlight" / by Benn Levy. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
creatorOf SOCIETY OF AUTHORS ARCHIVE. Vol. CCIV (ff. 305). Benn Levy; 1932-1957.Benn Wolfe Levy, MP; playwright: Correspondence, etc., with League of Dramatists: 1932-1957: Partly typewritten., 1932-1957 British Library
creatorOf Federal Theatre Project (U.S.). Federal Theatre Project scripts, 1935-1939. University of Southern California, USC Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Arts Council of Great Britain corporateBody
associatedWith Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament corporateBody
associatedWith Campaign for the Limitation of Secret Police Powers corporateBody
associatedWith Federal Theatre Project (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Fox, Paul Hervey, person
associatedWith Goetz, Ruth person
associatedWith Hale, Owen person
associatedWith League of British Dramatists corporateBody
associatedWith Levy, Benn Wolfe, 1900-1974 person
associatedWith Prentice, Herbert M, b. 1890 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Arts Censorship Great Britain
Civil rights Great Britain History 20th century
English drama
Dramatists, English
Occupation
Authors
Activity

Person

Birth 1900-03-07

Death 1973-12-07

Britons

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