Looking for very specific theatre fiction

Hi readers,

I'm looking for fiction that is:

-set in a theatre/among professional actors in the middle of the 20th century (1930-70) in Britain or Ireland

or

-set in a theatre/among professional actors in the last 15 years in Britain

or

-set during a production/tour of an opera or classical ballet in this century in Britain or Europe

Books can be any fiction genre as long as the theatrical part is realistic. Since these criteria may be a bit too specific, I'm also interested in stories set in drama schools, arts festivals, repertory companies etc. during the relevant periods.

Books I am already familiar with:

Three Dahlias
Brighton Mysteries
Best Supporting Actor
Maskerade
The one in the Cazalet Chronicles where one of the daughters is in rep.
Anything by Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh or Anthony Horowitz set in a theatre.

Thank you for your help!

A Snowfall of Silver by Laura Wood (1930s).

An Expert in Murder - Nicola Upson

Sleuth is Josephine Tey, and this first in the series is set in the theatre where her play "Richard of Bordeaux" is being performed.

Wise Children Britain and for a while the US from 1920s onwards. It's a fictional memoir told by a vaudeville performer, whose father is the pre-eminent Shakespearean actor of his time and they all have a short stint in Hollywood at one point

The first thing that came to mind for me was the Charles Paris series by Simon Brett. It mostly features Charles, an actor, drinking, having mishaps, occasionally destroying property, having hilarious conversations with his agent, and solving the murders of his fellow cast mates. Highly recommend the audio drama adaptations starring Bill Nighy as Charles.

Thumbs up to the Simon Brett cosy crime series.

There's Bullet in the Ballet by Brahms (who was a ballet critic) but it's a farce and was published in the all-foreigners-are-funny era.

If childrens is an option, Noel Streatfeild was an actress and her Ballet Shoes is still an unmissable childrens book, set in a stage school. Another mid century pro actress Pamela Brown wrote Swish of the Curtain is a slightly more convincing version of the let's do this show right here in this barn trope.

Penelope Fitzgerald's At Freddie's is set in the 1960s, at a London stage school for children. It has autobiographical elements and draws on the author's own experiences (who taught at such a school in the 60s) but there's no one-to-one correspondance with people IRL.

Thank you all for your replies! I clearly have some reading to do (although I've actually read the Upson book already, forgot to mention that one). I'm especially curious about At Freddie's.

Michael Blakemore, a director, wrote Next Season
Margaret Drabble Garrick Year
Adult novels, go, me!

Although not set in Britain or Ireland, Patrick Quentin's Puzzle for Players otherwise fits the bill.

>9 nessreader: Perhaps I should have had a good look at my own shelves first... I can literally see The Garrick Year from where I'm sitting.
Next Season looks interesting, thanks!

Oh good. I'm in the middle of nagging a friend to watch the Canadian tv series Slings & Arrows at the moment. Wish me luck.

Dodie Smith wrote The Town in Bloom using her experiences in theater.

>13 merrystar: Thank you, it's going on the list!

Giving this a bump because I'd still love to get some recent and/or opera recs!

Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis is a fantasy melodrama novel set in the opera world. Caveat : I haven't read it (did like her regency fantasy but bounced off her cosy-crime-with-dragons (too cosy))

One Dead Diva by Scott, mostly gay/crime/farce about opera people.

Lyre of Orpheus by Robertson Davis, about writing an opera, have liked his stories and furiously disliked his non-fic.

>13 merrystar: just read that book last year loved it

>16 nessreader: You have a knack for coming up with books I know but have forgotten about 🧐 I read The Lyre of Orpheus years ago.

However, for the opera or ballet stuff I'd really like something recent (from the last fifteen years or so), as I want to get a feel for the terminology and practicalities as they are now. I know there is a lot of making of stuff I can watch, and I will, but I always prefer to get my knowledge from the written word if I can.

>18 Edward528: thank you for the kind words.

There's a 2026 book called Opera Wars by Vincent, but it isn't narrative; it's a lot of interviews with professionals who make opera, talking about hot button issues.

Sorry, I keep coming up with part of the criteria but not exact match.