The origins of the society
The Shaw Society is the only Shaw society that dates from Shaw’s lifetime. It was founded by Dr Fritz Loewenstein, a Jewish refugee from Germany in the 1930s, who, in November 1941, finally wore down Shaw’s opposition to his plan for a society to promote Shavian ideas. He called the inaugural meeting, putting back the official date of its foundation to Shaw’s 85th birthday, 26 July 1941. Read more...
Sir Michael Holroyd is presented with The President’s Bust by vice-president, Hayward Morse
Former vice-president, the late, great Sylvia Syms at a society event
Actor Joe Sargent performs a reading
Theatre Director- Jonas Cemm, Shavian Academic – the late Frances Hughes and actor Lainey Shaw at a society event.
Dr Anne Wright CBE and Actor Julia Faulkner perform a reading.
Bonnie Greer OBE at a society event.
“Despite Shaw’s somewhat grudging agreement to having a society in his name, the Shaw Society has proved itself a magnet for so many diverse people who have been excited and stimulated by Shaw’s ideas and his fearlessness in challenging the accepted attitudes of our time. It has led to other Shaw Societies being formed around the world. It has encouraged and promoted stagings and readings of so many of Shaw’s works, many of them pieces which the commercial theatre has ignored in favour of the more box office ones. Three Cheers for the Shaw Society.”
Theatre producer and former Society Vice-President, the late Michael Friend
HONORARY PRESIDENT
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Sir Michael Holroyd
HONORARY VICE - PRESIDENTS
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Dame Judi Dench – Michael Rosen – Harry Hadden-Paton – Richard Digby-Day – Bonnie Greer OBE – Toni Kanal – Nicholas Barter – Hayward Morse – Sam Walters – Richard Dietrich – Richenda Carey
Trustees and Officers
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CHAIR – Maureen Clark-Darby FRSA
VICE-CHAIR – Murray Rosenthal
SECRETARY – Esme Chandler
TREASURER – Eoin O’Callaghan
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER – Jonas Cemm FRSA
ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES – Dame Sian Phillips, Patricia Hodge OBE, Ivan Wise,
John Foley, Christine Stevenson, David Grapes, Ryan Cormack
Volunteers
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MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY – Evelyn Ellis
ACADEMIC ADVISER & EDITOR OF THE SHAVIAN – Dr Anne Wright CBE
PRODUCTION EDITOR & MEDIA PRODUCER – Professor Emeritus Martin Wright FRSA
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We are also pleased to receive added support to extend our outreach activities , bringing the theatre and writings of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries to a wider more diverse audience. Help the society by donating today.