Steven Berkoff
Background
‘If I have a trademark style, I suppose it’s about physicality, a simplicity of communication
both orally and physically. That’s very important’ - Steven Berkoff.
● Born in Stepney, London in 1937 - actor, playwright and director.
● His real name is Leslie Steven Berks: Jewish Russian family name was Berkowitz.
● His grandparents moved away from Russia in the 1980s and settled in England.
● East London- Historically WC - multi cultural society and poverty.
● Key figures from the East End - PM Clement Atlee, Gangsters: The Kray Twins,
Sylvia Pankhurst, Jack the Ripper’s main hunting ground.
● Didn’t finish school - arrested + spent 3 months in Borstal (Young offenders institute)
Why is this important?
● Although multicultural he was exposed to outward racism and prejudice.
● Historically the “East end” was seen as a trap - return of MC + Berkoff
● First hand experience of poverty and how WC are treated by the rest of society.
● Tight close knit communities where people are thrown together, must exist and
survive by the “rules”.
● Diary of a Juvenile Delinquent, by Berkoff: informative insight into the Jewish young
man, growing up in the east end of London.
Theatrical Training
● Berkoff trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy in London and studied
movement at the Ecole Internationale de Théâtre de Jacques Lecoq in Paris.
○ From a theatrical point he has all the tools to be a successful actor.
● At his time in Webber Douglas, Berkoff was a mime and physical theatre practitioner.
● Played villains in 1980s Hollywood productions (Eg.The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
● Films: Hamlet at Elsinore (1964), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), A Clockwork
Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975) + Bond films
Own work
As a talented artist he started providing commentary on the world as he saw it ~ real issues
of “modern day reality” - message to the audience rather than simply paint a pretty picture.
● 1968:formed the London Theatre Group + wrote, directed & performed with company.
● Experiment adaptation:The Trial (pupil ensemble), Metamorphosis, The Penal Colony
● 1970s = end of censorship, 1980s: Social/ political change + more physical theatre.
○ Wanted to escape the confinement of realistic and naturalistic drama.
○ Berkoff wrote plays set against the political landscape of Margaret Thatcher.
● 1990s: adaptations of Shakespeare (Coriolanus) took his company globally
● One man shows/ ensemble productions: 2008: On the Waterfront + 2011:Oedipus
● Directed Metamorphosis in 6 countries using international actors.
● Berkoff is a published author with several collections of poetry to his name.
● Misconception about Berkoff’s style: shouting, bad language, big facial expressions
without any truth in physicality or performance.
● 2014: toured new play, The Actor’s Lament + continues to write, direct and perform.
● 2015: at 78 actively involved in current contemporary culture.
● Re-emphasized his Jewish cultural inheritance in recent years
© 2024 Grades Express
Background
‘If I have a trademark style, I suppose it’s about physicality, a simplicity of communication
both orally and physically. That’s very important’ - Steven Berkoff.
● Born in Stepney, London in 1937 - actor, playwright and director.
● His real name is Leslie Steven Berks: Jewish Russian family name was Berkowitz.
● His grandparents moved away from Russia in the 1980s and settled in England.
● East London- Historically WC - multi cultural society and poverty.
● Key figures from the East End - PM Clement Atlee, Gangsters: The Kray Twins,
Sylvia Pankhurst, Jack the Ripper’s main hunting ground.
● Didn’t finish school - arrested + spent 3 months in Borstal (Young offenders institute)
Why is this important?
● Although multicultural he was exposed to outward racism and prejudice.
● Historically the “East end” was seen as a trap - return of MC + Berkoff
● First hand experience of poverty and how WC are treated by the rest of society.
● Tight close knit communities where people are thrown together, must exist and
survive by the “rules”.
● Diary of a Juvenile Delinquent, by Berkoff: informative insight into the Jewish young
man, growing up in the east end of London.
Theatrical Training
● Berkoff trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy in London and studied
movement at the Ecole Internationale de Théâtre de Jacques Lecoq in Paris.
○ From a theatrical point he has all the tools to be a successful actor.
● At his time in Webber Douglas, Berkoff was a mime and physical theatre practitioner.
● Played villains in 1980s Hollywood productions (Eg.The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
● Films: Hamlet at Elsinore (1964), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), A Clockwork
Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975) + Bond films
Own work
As a talented artist he started providing commentary on the world as he saw it ~ real issues
of “modern day reality” - message to the audience rather than simply paint a pretty picture.
● 1968:formed the London Theatre Group + wrote, directed & performed with company.
● Experiment adaptation:The Trial (pupil ensemble), Metamorphosis, The Penal Colony
● 1970s = end of censorship, 1980s: Social/ political change + more physical theatre.
○ Wanted to escape the confinement of realistic and naturalistic drama.
○ Berkoff wrote plays set against the political landscape of Margaret Thatcher.
● 1990s: adaptations of Shakespeare (Coriolanus) took his company globally
● One man shows/ ensemble productions: 2008: On the Waterfront + 2011:Oedipus
● Directed Metamorphosis in 6 countries using international actors.
● Berkoff is a published author with several collections of poetry to his name.
● Misconception about Berkoff’s style: shouting, bad language, big facial expressions
without any truth in physicality or performance.
● 2014: toured new play, The Actor’s Lament + continues to write, direct and perform.
● 2015: at 78 actively involved in current contemporary culture.
● Re-emphasized his Jewish cultural inheritance in recent years
© 2024 Grades Express
