Lecture
Professor David Peimer
Saturday 29.08.2026
Professor David Peimer
A Star Is Born: Only a Romantic Musical? Four Eras, Four Versions
Saturday 29.08.2026
How to watch
This lecture starts on 29 August at 5:00pm (UK).
Summary
What happens when one partner’s career ascends while the other’s plummets into self-destruction? Join us as we delve into a fascinating modern myth about the emotional roller-coaster required to achieve fame in Hollywood. From 1937 to the musicals of 1954, 1976, and 2018, each version of A Star Is Born features iconic stars (Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga) and depicts the intriguing shifts from classic cinema to the modern music industry over 80 years of changing culture.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published numerous books, including Armed Response: Plays from South Africa and the digital book Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.