Profile
After graduating from Bristol University, I worked in the literary department of Soho Theatre. From 1995, as literary manager of Paines Plough theatre company, I worked alongside writer in residence Sarah Kane to discover and develop a new generation of playwrights.
My first play ‘Shopping and F*cking’ was produced in 1996 at the Royal Court Theatre. My play ‘Mother Clap’s Mollyhouse’ was produced at the National Theatre in 2001. My 2005 play ‘The Cut’ was produced at the Donmar Theatre. My 2007 play cycle ‘Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat’ was premiered by Paines Plough at the Traverse Theatre.
I was an Associate Artist at the National Theatre from 2002 – 2005, where I wrote several plays for the Connections scheme for schools and youth theatres.
In 2012-14, I was writer in residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company, where I wrote a new version of Brecht’s ‘Galileo’, a contemporary response to Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ and developed a new musical ‘The Boy In The Dress’ with David Walliams and Robbie Williams. I co-directed a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Troilus and Cressida’, a collaboration with New York’s Wooster Group.
My play ‘The Cane’ opened at the Royal Court Theatre in 2019. My play ‘Ben and Imo’ opened at the RSC’s Swan Theatre in 2024.
My plays are published by Methuen, both as single volumes and collected editions. The plays have been widely translated and produced across the world.
I wrote a fortnightly column ‘Culture Comment’ for the Guardian Newspaper (2005-8) and continue to contribute arts features for the national press.
In 2021/22 I was joint Artistic Director and CEO of the King’s Head Theatre in Islington, programming the work of emerging LGBTQ+ theatre-makers.
Register of Interest
Nothing to declare.