Steven Berkoff’s fiery, electrifying, and emotional autobiography Shouting At Night will be published by Aurora Press on Thursday 22 October 2026. Launch details to follow.
This powerful new memoir boldly reveals the internal workings of the internationally acclaimed actor, director, and playwright Steven Berkoff, a master of his art – and so much more than a Hollywood master villain. He uncovers the man, the artist, and the relentless and uncompromising creative force behind his extraordinary career and artistry that has defined his life’s work
Berkoff writes with depth and honesty in an unflinching account of his life. He reflects on his humble and rather painful beginning and the despairing agony, when no words came out as he howled in solitary in juvenile detention aged 15. He made a lifelong promise to transcend adversity through discipline, imagination, unwavering commitment, ambition, and dedication to artistic excellence.
Steven Berkoff says: “Every actor is “shouting at night” on a stage somewhere in the world – and I’ve always been known as a shouter. I managed to drag myself out of the morass of my early youth with a zealous determination. I promised myself that I would compensate for those less than nourishing early years. And so, I did with a vengeance. Beginning life as an actor, and then thoroughly disenchanted with much of the current theatrical fare, I decided to turn my hand to writing, with no less enthusiasm. I rightly sensed that opportunities might be rare and so I began to turn my energy towards directing and even forming my own theatre company. This really opened Sesame’s door and enabled me to not only choose my own material but to invent techniques rarely seen in modern theatre. For this I acknowledge the help I received back then from the Arts Council Of Great Britain, they gave me a grant for drama school, a living allowance and my first cheque book! When I formed my first company, they gave me a yearly allowance – and am eternally grateful.”
With his trademark candour and bite Steven Berkoff reveals his life working with the giants of stage and screen in iconic films and theatre productions, developing radical and groundbreaking performance techniques with his highly physical theatrical style, to playing Hollywood villains and being sacked and walking out on “quite a few projects”.
Stanley Kubrick, Johnny Depp, Laurence Olivier, Joe Papp, Prince, Joan Collins, Christopher Walken to the TV drama Vikings, Steven Berkoff captures his life with the intensity, wit, and chaos of his thrilling anarchic spirit.
Shouting At Night is more than the autobiography of a celebrated performer. It is the story of resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of artistic truth. It offers an unprecedented glimpse into the life and mind of one of Britain’s most original creative talents, whose work has influenced generations of actors and theatre-makers around the world.
For theatre lovers and film enthusiasts, and anyone inspired by stories of perseverance and creative courage, Shouting At Night is an unforgettable journey into the making of an artistic icon.