Simon Stephens (born 6 February 1971) is a British-Irish playwright and Professor of Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University. Having taught on the Young Writers' Programme at the Royal Court Theatre for many years, he is now an Artistic Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith. He is the inaugural Associate Playwright of Steep Theatre Company, Chicago, where four of his plays, Harper Regan, Motortown, Wastwater, and Birdland had their U.S. premieres.[1][2][3] His writing is widely performed throughout Europe and, along with Dennis Kelly and Martin Crimp, he is one of the most performed English-language writers in Germany.[4]
Simon Stephens | |
|---|---|
 Simon Stephens officiating a wedding in France (August 2023) | |
| Born | 6 February 1971 Manchester, England |
| Occupation | Playwright |
| Nationality | British-Irish |
| Spouse | Polly Heath |
 Literature portal | |
Life
editOriginally from Stockport, Greater Manchester,[5] Stephens graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.[6] After university, he lived in Edinburgh for several years, where he met his future wife Polly, before later completing a PGCE at the Institute of Education. He worked as a teacher for a few years, before leaving to become a playwright. In 2017, Stephens was appointed to a Professorship at the Manchester School of Writing, at Manchester Metropolitan University.
He was a member of Scottish art punk band Country Teasers.
Stephens lives in London with his wife and three children. He has three cats, a dog, a snake and a capybara as pets. In 2016, Stephens published A Working Diary, an account of his activities in 2014.[7]
Plays
edit- Morning Sun (2021). Manhattan Theatre Club production premiered in October 2021 at New York City Center Stage I directed by Lila Neugebauer, with Blair Brown, Edie Falco, and Marin Ireland.
- Blindness (2020). Premiered at Donmar Warehouse, directed by Walter Meierjohann. Adaptation of José Saramago's novel of the same name.
- Fortune (2020). Premiered at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, directed by Sean Holmes[8]
- Light Falls (2019). Premiered at Royal Exchange Manchester, directed by Sarah Francomb. Irish Premier in Cork School of Music, directed by Regina Crowley.
- Rage (2018) premiered at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, directed by Elle While[9] Revival cast premiere at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (2020)[10]
- Obsession (2017). (English translation of Jan Peter Gerrits' play) Premiered at the Barbican Centre, directed by Ivo Van Hove[11]
- The Seagull (2017). Premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith, directed by Sean Holmes
- Fatherland (2017). Co-created with Frantic Assembly's Scott Graham and Karl Hyde for the Manchester International Festival at the Royal Exchange.
- The Threepenny Opera (2016) premiered at the National Theatre, directed by Rufus Norris, a new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's book and lyrics (music by Kurt Weill)[12]
- Heisenberg (2015) premiered Off-Broadway at the New York City Center-Stage II, directed by Mark Brokaw[13]
- Song From Far Away (2015) premiered at the Young Vic, directed by Ivo van Hove[14]
- The Cherry Orchard (2014) premiering at the Young Vic, directed by Katie Mitchell
- Carmen Disruption (2014) premiering at Deutsches Schauspielhaus, directed by Sebastian Nübling[15]
- Blindsided (2014) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom[16]
- Birdland (2014) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Carrie Cracknell[17]
- London (2012) incorporating Sea Wall and T5 premiered at Salisbury Playhouse, directed by George Perrin[18]
- Morning (2012) premiered at the Traverse Theatre, directed by Sean Holmes[19]
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2012) premiered at the National Theatre, directed by Marianne Elliott, adapted from the Mark Haddon novel of the same name[20]
- A Doll's House (2012) premiered at the Young Vic, directed by Carrie Cracknell[21] American premiere at Brooklyn Academy of Music (2014)[22]
- Three Kingdoms (2011) premiered at Theatre NO99 in Tallinn, Estonia, directed by Sebastian Nübling,[23] English premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith (2012)[24] | German premiere at the Munich Kammerspiele (2011)
- I Am the Wind (2011) translation of the Jon Fosse play premiered at the Young Vic, directed by Patrice Chéreau[25]
- Wastwater (2011) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Katie Mitchell[26]
- The Trial of Ubu (2010) premiered at the Toneelgroep in Amsterdam, (2012) English premiere at the Hampstead Theatre, directed by Katie Mitchell[27]
- T5 (2010) premiered at DryWrite at the Roundhouse, directed by Vicky Jones, and further developed at the Traverse Theatre as part of Traverse Live!, directed by Dominic Hill[28]
- A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky (2010) written with David Eldridge and Robert Holman premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith, directed by Sean Holmes[29]
- Marine Parade (2010) with music by Mark Eitzel premiered at the Brighton Festival directed by Jo McInnes[30]
- Punk Rock (2009) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom[31]
- Canopy of Stars (2008) premiered at the Tricycle Theatre as part of the 'Great Game' series
- Sea Wall (2008) premiered in the Broken Space Season at Bush Theatre, directed by George Perrin[32]
- Pornography (2007) premiered at the Traverse Theatre directed by Sean Holmes[33]
- Harper Regan (2007) premiered at the National Theatre, directed by Marianne Elliott[34]
- Motortown (2006) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Ramin Gray[35]
- On the Shore of the Wide World (2005) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom[36]
- Country Music (2004) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson[37]
- Christmas (2004) premiered at the Bush Theatre, directed by Joanne McInnes[38]
- One Minute (2003) premiered at the ATC, directed by Gordon Anderson[39]
- Port (2002) premiered at the Royal Exchange, directed by Marianne Elliott[40]
- Herons (2001) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Simon Usher[41]
- Bluebird (1998) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson[42]
- Bring Me Sunshine (1997) premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, directed by Heather Davies
Awards
edit- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time won the Olivier Award for Best New Play 2013 and the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play[43][44]
- Punk Rock was nominated at the TMA Awards for Best New Play in 2010, and was also nominated for the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play in 2010[45][46]
- Pornography won the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play in 2008-09[47]
- On the Shore of The Wide World won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2006[48]
- One Minute won at the Tron Theatre Awards as Best New Play in 2003
- Port won the Pearson Award for Best New Play in 2001
References
edit- ^ "Steep Theatre Opens 13th Season with Simon Stephens' MOTORTOWN Premiere Tonight". broadwayworld.com. BMW News Desk. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ Jones, Chris. "'Wastwater' plumbs depths of human despair". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Steep Theatre's 2017-18 Season Includes New Simon Stephens Play". AMERICAN THEATRE. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Haydon, Andrew (21 May 2015). "Going Deutsch: Britain and Germany's theatre exchange". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "Simon Stephens: Stockport state of mind". The Guardian. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ Salt, Nathan (5 October 2016). "Stockport playwright Simon Stephens inspires Salford students with school visit". Salford Now. Salford Now. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ Jones, Alice (2 May 2016). "Theatre director Simon Stephens' 'A Working Diary' reveals a rollercoaster year". i. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ Tanaka, Nobuko (3 January 2020). "'Fortune' updates Faust's devilish deal". The Japan Times. Tokyo, Japan: The Japan Times, Ltd. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "'A Love Letter to Brexit Britain,' Simon Stephens' 'Rage' Premieres at RWCMD". Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "UWTSD Students to perform Simon Stephens' Rage". University of Wales Trinity Saint David. University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "'Obsession' Review: Jude Law Stars in London – Variety". variety.com. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "The Threepenny Opera | National Theatre". nationaltheatre.org.uk. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ Heisenberg lortel.org, accessed 3 February 2016
- ^ Gardner, Lynn. "'Song from Far Away' review – Simon Stephens sneaks a late emotional punch" The Guardian, 6 September 2015
- ^ "Carmen Disruption", Deutsches Schauspielhaus, 2014
- ^ "Blindsided", Royal Exchange Theatre, 2014
- ^ "Birdland", Royal Court Theatre, 2014
- ^ "London", Salisbury Playhouse, 2012, archived from the original on 28 July 2012
- ^ "Morning", Lyric Hammersmith, 2012, archived from the original on 19 July 2012
- ^ "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time", Royal Court Theatre, 2012
- ^ "A Doll's House", Young Vic, 2012, archived from the original on 17 July 2012
- ^ "A Doll's House", Brooklyn Academy of Music, 2014
- ^ "Three Kingdoms", Theatre NO99, 2011, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
- ^ "Three Kingdoms", Lyric Theatre, 2011, archived from the original on 8 December 2011
- ^ "I Am The Wind", Young Vic, 2011, archived from the original on 13 January 2015
- ^ "Wastwater", Royal Court Theatre, 2011
- ^ "The Trial of Ubu", Hampstead Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 November 2011
- ^ "T5", Picture House, 2010
- ^ "A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky", Lyric Hammersmith, 2010, archived from the original on 4 June 2012
- ^ "Marine Parade", ETT, 2010
- ^ "Punk Rock", Royal Exchange Theatre, 2009, archived from the original on 7 October 2011
- ^ "Sea Wall", Bush Theatre, 2008, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
- ^ Walker, Lynne (2007), "Pornography Review", The Independent, London
- ^ "Harper Regan", National Theatre, 2007, archived from the original on 27 September 2011
- ^ "Motortown", Royal Court Theatre, 2006
- ^ "Premieres; On the Shore of the Wide World" (PDF), Royal Exchange Theatre, 2005, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2012
- ^ "Country Music", Royal Court Theatre, 2004
- ^ "Christmas", Bush Theatre, 2004, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
- ^ "One Minute", ATC, 2003
- ^ Hickling, Alfred (14 November 2002), "Port Review", The Guardian, London
- ^ "Herons", Royal Court Theatre, 2001
- ^ "Bluebird", Royal Court Theatre, 1998
- ^ "'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' Broiadway" playbillvault.com, accessed 3 February 2016
- ^ "Olivier Awards, 2013" olivierawards.com, accessed 3 February 2016
- ^ "Evening Standard theatre awards" standard.co.uk, 9 November 2009
- ^ "Awards 2010" uktheatre.org, accessed 3 February 2016
- ^ "Awards, 2008-09" criticsawards.theatrescotland.com, accessed 3 February 2016
- ^ "Olivier Awards, 2006" olivierawards.com, accessed 3 February 3016