Peter Sutton: poet, playwright, translator

Poems of Armenian War and Peace by Liana Hayrapetyan and Peter Sutton, with illustrations by Patricia Arbelina and Martha Moderitz, presents two contrasting views of Armenian culture and history.

Peter Sutton has completed a modern verse translation of William Langland’s great 14th-century poem Piers Plowman. Langland’s disturbing and humorous commentary on corruption and greed remains apposite today.

Since the publication of his Piers Plowman, other poems by Peter Sutton have been published in poetry journals such as HQ, Orbis, Poetry Salzburg and Sarasvati. For details see the Poetry section of his full c.v. (link below). He regularly reads from his work at Ledbury Poetry Salons and other West Midlands events.

Peter Sutton’s play Elgar and Alice was first performed on 5th June 2007 as part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Gerald Harper played Elgar and the Director was Gene David Kirk.

Elgar and Alice is set in 1920 at the Elgars’ home in Hampstead, and explores the extraordinary marriage that resulted in great English music ranging from Land of Hope and Glory to oratorios, symphonies and popular songs.

The Prebumptious Mr Punch is the story of a present-day Punch. Now it’s prison, not the noose, that Punch faces, with its teacher and doctor and chaplain and governor. Will they reform him? And what will happen when he gets out? This funny and thought-provoking play bends the rules of theatre while providing the answers.

Peter Sutton’s translation of the play Death of a Hunter by Rolf Hochhuth, adapted by Peter Thiers, received its UK and English language premiere at the Finborough Theatre, London, in April 2018. Edmund Dehn played Hemingway, and the play was directed by Anthony Shrubsall.

The same team presented the play again at the 2019 Brighton Festival.

Peter Sutton’s playwriting began with his winning first prize in West Midlands playwriting competitions and being named runner-up in the 2005 Kings Cross Competition. In 2006 he was invited to write a play for an international Shakespeare Festival, and further plays have been given readings at Actors & Writers London.

For some years Peter Sutton was Head of Publications at the UNESCO Institute for Education in Hamburg, where he edited the International Review of Education and published books and articles in six languages. Since 1994 he has worked freelance for international organisations, lawyers and arts centres, translating or editing some 50 books and journals and around 1500 other documents.