Berkoff on theatre and his love of jive

Dec 28, 2020
By: stagedoorscribbler
Steven Berkoff photographed by Hattie Miles

Veteran actor, writer, photographer, director and sometime speaker with Clive Conway Productions Steven Berkoff is offering a free DVD with every December order of his acclaimed book A World Elsewhere.
Described as ‘part analysis and part confession’ the book finds Berkoff attempting to describe the inspirations for and approach and techniques used in the creation of his many faceted theatre works.
Written from his point of view as an actor, playwright and director, it explores how those disciplines interconnect.
Berkoff examines his most difficult, successful and unique creations, revisiting a long and varied career to examine how they were shaped by him, and how he was shaped by them. For more details see Steven Berkoff’s Facebook page.
Good to see Berkoff at the age of 82 using social media to promote his work. In fact he doesn’t miss a trick. There's plenty of mainstream media too.
Just a few weeks ago he was quite possibly introducing himself to a whole new generation  - perhaps those who only know him as a film actor specialising in bad guys - in a lengthy piece in the Guardian which found him discussing his many cultural touchstones.
It included everything from his views on theatre, mime and music to his love of poetry, art, classic American cinema and Italian neo-realist film. Perhaps surprisingly it also revealed that the young Mr Berkoff was once a demon on the post-war dance floor, cutting a rug with his jive moves.