Simon Stephens Explained

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]

Life

Originally 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

• 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
• Blindsided (2014) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom
• Birdland (2014) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Carrie Cracknell
• London (2012) incorporating Sea Wall and T5 premiered at Salisbury Playhouse, directed by George Perrin
• Morning (2012) premiered at the Traverse Theatre, directed by Sean Holmes
• 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
• A Doll's House (2012) premiered at the Young Vic, directed by Carrie Cracknell American premiere at Brooklyn Academy of Music (2014)
• Three Kingdoms (2011) premiered at Theatre NO99 in Tallinn, Estonia, directed by Sebastian Nübling, English premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith (2012) | 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
• Wastwater (2011) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Katie Mitchell
• The Trial of Ubu (2010) premiered at the Toneelgroep in Amsterdam, (2012) English premiere at the Hampstead Theatre, directed by Katie Mitchell
• 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
• A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky (2010) written with David Eldridge and Robert Holman premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith, directed by Sean Holmes
• Marine Parade (2010) with music by Mark Eitzel premiered at the Brighton Festival directed by Jo McInnes
• Punk Rock (2009) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom
• 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
• Pornography (2007) premiered at the Traverse Theatre directed by Sean Holmes
• Harper Regan (2007) premiered at the National Theatre, directed by Marianne Elliott
• Motortown (2006) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Ramin Gray
• On the Shore of the Wide World (2005) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom
• Country Music (2004) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson
• Christmas (2004) premiered at the Bush Theatre, directed by Joanne McInnes
• One Minute (2003) premiered at the ATC, directed by Gordon Anderson
• Port (2002) premiered at the Royal Exchange, directed by Marianne Elliott
• Herons (2001) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Simon Usher
• Bluebird (1998) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson
• Bring Me Sunshine (1997) premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, directed by Heather Davies

Awards

• 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^{[15] [16]}
• 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^{[17] [18]}
• Pornography won the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play in 2008-09^[19]
• On the Shore of The Wide World won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2006^[20]
• 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

External links

• Simon Stephens at Doollee
  • Official website of the Sea Wall movie, performed by Andrew Scott

Notes and References

1. News: Steep Theatre Opens 13th Season with Simon Stephens' MOTORTOWN Premiere Tonight. broadwayworld.com. BMW News Desk. 2016-12-17.
2. News: 'Wastwater' plumbs depths of human despair. Jones. Chris. chicagotribune.com. 2018-05-04. en-US.
3. News: Steep Theatre's 2017-18 Season Includes New Simon Stephens Play. 2017-07-14. AMERICAN THEATRE. 2018-05-04. en-US.
4. News: Going Deutsch: Britain and Germany's theatre exchange. Haydon. Andrew. 2015-05-21. The Guardian. 2017-02-09. en-GB. 0261-3077.
5. Web site: Simon Stephens: Stockport state of mind . The Guardian . 23 January 2013 . 26 May 2021.
6. Web site: Salt . Nathan . Stockport playwright Simon Stephens inspires Salford students with school visit . Salford Now . Salford Now . 26 May 2021 . 2016-10-05.
7. Web site: Jones . Alice . Theatre director Simon Stephens' 'A Working Diary' reveals a rollercoaster year . . 30 January 2023 . 2 May 2016.
8. News: 'Fortune' updates Faust's devilish deal . . 3 January 2020 . Tanaka . Nobuko . 24 February 2020 . Tokyo, Japan . The Japan Times, Ltd. .
9. Web site: 'A Love Letter to Brexit Britain,' Simon Stephens' 'Rage' Premieres at RWCMD . Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama . Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama . 26 May 2021.
10. Web site: UWTSD Students to perform Simon Stephens' Rage . University of Wales Trinity Saint David . University of Wales Trinity Saint David . 26 May 2021.
11. Web site: 'Obsession' Review: Jude Law Stars in London – Variety . variety.com. 28 April 2017 . 2019-01-28.
12. Web site: The Threepenny Opera National Theatre. nationaltheatre.org.uk. 2 March 2016 . 2016-06-21.
13. http://lortel.org/Archives/Production/5995 Heisenberg
14. Gardner, Lynn. "'Song from Far Away' review – Simon Stephens sneaks a late emotional punch" The Guardian, 6 September 2015
15. http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/14052/The-Curious-Incident-of-the-Dog-in-the-Night-Time "'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' Broiadway"
16. http://www.olivierawards.com/winners/view/item216388/olivier-winners-2013/ "Olivier Awards, 2013"
17. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/evening-standard-theatre-awards-rachel-weisz-and-lenny-henry-fight-stage-giants-for-top-prize-6797532.html "Evening Standard theatre awards"
18. http://www.uktheatre.org/awards/nominees2010.aspx "Awards 2010"
19. http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/Winners%20by%20year/08-09.html "Awards, 2008-09"
20. http://www.olivierawards.com/winners/view/item98373/olivier-winners-2006/ "Olivier Awards, 2006"