Pam Gems (1 August 1925 – 13 May 2011) was an English playwright . The author of numerous original plays, as well as of adaptations of works by major European playwrights of the past, Gems is best known for the 1978 musical play Piaf
Iris Pamela Price was born in Bransgore , Hampshire , and had her first play – a tale of goblins and elves – staged when she was eight by her fellow pupils at primary school. She studied psychology at Manchester University from which she graduated in 1949. She was in her forties when she started to write professionally. She is best known for her 1978 musical play Piaf about French singer Édith Piaf.
She was nominated for two Tony Awards: for Stanley (Best Play) in 1997, and for Marlene (Best Book of a Musical), starring Siân Phillips as Marlene Dietrich , in 1999. Gems adapted works by dramatists ranging from Henrik Ibsen , Federico García Lorca and Anton Chekhov to Marguerite Duras .
She married architect Keith Gems; the couple had four children. Her husband and children survive her.
The Early Plays, (1972–1976)
(work, year, place first produced) Betty's Wonderful Christmas (1972), Cockpit Theatre, LondonMy Warren And After Birthday (1973), Almost Free Theatre , LondonMiz Venus and Wild Bill (1973), Almost Free Theatre, LondonAfter Birthday (1973)The Amiable Courtship Of Miz Venus And Wild Bill (1974), Almost Free Theatre, LondonGo West Young Woman (1974), The Roundhouse, LondonUp In Sweden (1975), Haymarket, LeicesterMy Name Is Rosa Luxembourg (adaptation), (1975)Up In Sweden (1975)Rivers and Forests (adaptation) , (1976)Dead Fish (aka Dusa, Fish, Stas And Vi , 1976), Edinburgh FestivalGuinevere (1976), Edinburgh FestivalThe Project (1976), Soho Poly, LondonThe Middle Plays, (1977–2000)
Franz Into April (1977), ICA, LondonQueen Christina (1977), Other Place, Stratford-on-AvonPiaf (1978), Other Place, Stratford-on-AvonLadybird, Ladybird (1979), The King's Head, Islington, LondonSandra (1979), LondonAunt Mary (1982), Warehouse Theatre, LondonThe Treat (1982), ICA, LondonThe Cherry Orchard (adaptation) (1984)Variety Night (1982), LondonCamille (adaptation) (1984)Loving Women (1984)The Danton Affair (1986)Pasionaria (1985), Playhouse Theatre, Newcastle upon TyneArther and Guinevere (1990), EdinburghThe Seagull The Blue Angel (1991), Other Place, Stratford-on-AvonDeborah's Daughter (1994), ManchesterGhosts (adaptation) (1994)Marlene (1996), OldhamStanley (1996), LondonAt the Window (1997)The Snow Palace (1998)Ebba (1999)The Late Plays (2000-)
Girabaldi, Si! (2000)Linderhof (2001)Mrs Pat (2002), Theatre Royal, YorkYerma Not Joan the Musical (2003)The Lady From The Sea (adaptation) (2003), Almeda Theatre LondonThe Little Mermaid (adaptation) (2004), Greenwich Theatre, Riverside Theatre, LondonNelson (2004), Nuffield Theatre, SouthamptonBroadway Lady (2007)Piaf (2008), Donmar Warehouse, LondonWinterlove (2009), The Drill Hall, LondonDespatches (2009), The Drill Hall, London
