Plays

Screenplays

& Gillian
 

 First published in 1996

Translated into 10 languages

Ampersand. And. The ampersand partner, the wife, the other half of a twosome. As in Jack & Jill, Darby & Joan, Romeo & Juliet. And Robin & Gillian.

While working in New York, Gillian, a girl from Selly Oak, meets Robin. Robin is not yet ready to enmesh himself in a binding alliance. But she learns to give and he learns to give; and they both learn to love.

Returning to England, she appears happy to play the role of wife, happy to be the second name, happy to have Robin and an ampersand proceed her.

But when Robin meets a younger woman, he knows he must not turn from old love to new. And then events come to enshroud Gillian's days.

Ampersand and a name is a partner's story. & GILLIAN is Gillian's story, a story of love marriage and another woman.

" No trite cliché or philosophical reflection alleviates the raw emotion. A very personal stab at a taboo subject " Daily Telegraph

" Alvin Rakoff's moving novel (is an) unsparing account of bereavement mitigated by his affectionate portrayal of married life " The Times

" Alvin Rakoff .. has written a novel that prompted fever bidding at auction..

.. 'editors all over London were crying over their copies'

.. Little Brown won the auction by paying 'a very substantial advance' "   Book Seller

Seven Einsteins

Alvin's second novel - a science fiction thriller - attacks the dangers of human cloning.

He is currently adapting this work for the screen for Transworld Pictures Ltd.

Baldwin Street

Alvin's third novel is based on his childhood in Canada in a poor, prewar market area of Toronto.

In June 2007, Baldwin Street will be published in the USA by New York publishers, Bunim & Banningan.

Too Marvelous for Words 

In 2003, Alvin was commissioned to write a theatrical musical of the life of song writer, Johnny Mercer.

Too 'Marvelous for Words' has so far been presented at the Mill at Sonning and King's Head, London.

Mercer wrote over 1000 hit songs .. 
  I Wanna Be Around To Pick Up The Pieces
    Come Rain Or Come Shine
        Accentuate The Positive
          That Old Black Magic
              Blues In The Night
               I'm Old Fashioned
                    Dream

All the recording artists of his day performed his songs ..
  Sinatra
      Bennett
       Crosby
         Ella

.. with and all the bands
  Benny Goodman
Tommy Dorsey

A Musical about
Johnny Mercer

Original Screenplays

SAY HELLO TO YESTERDAY
starring Jean Simmons, Leonard Whiting (Cinerama)

CHURCHILL'S PEOPLE (BBC)

ROOMS (Thames Television)

Screen Adaptations

CITY ON FIRE
starring Ava Gardner, Henry Fonda (Astral Films)

OUR TOWN (BBC)

A MAN ABOUT A DOG (Anglia Television)

CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL (BBC)

SEVEN EINSTEINS  Transworld Pictures LTD have asked him to adapt his novel 'Seven Einsteins' for the screen.