Peter Shaffer

Helping orphans the way you would do it

Peter Shaffer (born May 15, 1926) is a British dramatist, author of numerous award-winning plays, several of which have been filmed. He was born in Liverpool, and is the twin brother of another playwright, Anthony Shaffer. He gained a scholarship to Cambridge University to read History.

Peter Shaffer's works include:

The Salt Land (1954), his first play, which was presented on BBC television.
Five Finger Exercise (1958)
The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964) which examines the conquest of Peru by the Spanish, and was made into a 1969 film.
Black Comedy (1965) which explores the effect loss of light would have on a group of people who all hold things from each other.
Equus (1973), which involves a stable-boy who stabs 6 horses in their eyes, won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and was made into a 1977 film.
Amadeus (1979) which tells the story of how court composer Antonio Salieri attempted to destroy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart of whom he was jealous, and also won a Tony Award for Best Play, in 1981. It was made into a 1984 film, which won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Lettice and Lovage (1987)