Tom Stoppard’s Plays: Patterns of Plenitude and Parsimony

In Tom Stoppard’s Plays: Patterns of Plenitude and Parsimony Nigel Purse assesses the complete canon of Tom Stoppard’s works on a thematic basis. He explains that, amongst the plenitude of chaotic comedy, wordplay and intellectual ping-pong of Stoppard’s plays, the principle of parsimony that is Occam’s razor lies at the heart of his works. He identifies key patterns in theme - ethics and duality - and method - Stoppard’s stage debates and his dramatic vehicles - as well as in theatrical devices.

Quoting extensively from all Stoppard’s published works, many of his interviews and also unpublished material Nigel Purse arrives at a comprehensive and unique appraisal of Stoppard’s plays.

Nigel Purse has an MA in Modern History from St. Edmund Hall, Oxford and an MBA from Cass (formerly City) University. He has a wide and keen interest in theatre, the arts and history.