Michael Billington has been drama critic of The Guardian since 1971 and of Country Life since 1986. He is also the author of several books including biographies of Harold Pinter and Peggy Ashcroft and studies of Alan Ayckbourn and Tom Stoppard. His most recent book, State of the Nation, surveying British theatre and society since 1945, won the Theatre Book of the Year Award in 2008.