PLAYS AND DRAMAS - STAGE, RADIO, TV & FILM
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
WINNERS
2011 – Best Play or Film Human Trafficking Foundation for “Slave”. Commissioned & Produced by Feelgood Theatre at The Lowry and national tour.
2010 – Pete Postlethwaite Award Manchester Evening News Best New Play for “Slave”, Feelgood Theatre at The Lowry.
2005 – Art 05 Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts for Quarantine Theatre. I was Writer/Deviser of Quarantine’s “White Trash” @ Contact Theatre Manchester 2004 and “EatEat” @ Leicester Haymarket Theatre 2003
2002 – Best New Play, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “52 Degrees South”, Big Theatre production @ Imperial War Museum North, a Commonwealth Games Cultureshock production.
1994 – Best New Play in the Regions, Plays International Magazine for “Strange Attractors – love in a virtual world”, Contact Theatre Manchester in association with Granada TV
1992 – Best New Play in the Regions, Plays International Magazine for “Excess XS”, Contact Theatre Manchester
NOMINATIONS
2012 – Best New Play Manchester Theatre Awards for “Obama the Mamba”. An Artbuilding Projects co-production with Curve Theatre Leicester and The Lowry Salford.
2010 – Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “Fireflies: a love story waiting to happen”, commissioned and produced by The Lowry.
2004 – Best Special Entertainment, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “Love on the Dole” which I adapted from the novel as a community play for The Lowry.
2001 – Sony Award Best Drama for “Blast” – BBC Radio 4
1996 – Best Special Entertainment, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “Seven-Tenths”, Walk the Plank Theatre Ship tour of British coastline.
1990 – Best New Play, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “Private Times”, The Library Theatre Manchester.
1989 – Best New Play, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “Rule 43”, Green Room Manchester (part of national tour of theatres & prisons).
1988 – Best New Play, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for “McAlpine’s Fusilier”, Contact Theatre Manchester.
STAGE PLAYS – CHRONOLOGICAL
2023
“Captain Blood’s Singular Circus” – writer and producer of site-specific community play for Belper. Funded by Arts Council England National Lottery Fund
2022
“The Palace of Varieties – life and times of Dennis Skinner” – new play commissioned by Derby Theatre
“On Yer Bike, Solihull” – site-specific community play for Commonwealth Games Birmingham Festival. Commissioned by Parrabola Theatre and Solihull borough Council
2019
“Reparation Island”- new play commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome and The Drive Project, based on interviews with war veterans and their families from the Midlands, performed by the participants
“Bess the Commoner Queen” national tour
2017
“Bess – the Commoner Queen” at The Guildhall Theatre Derby. Commissioned and funded by First Art in association with Derby Live. One woman show mixing theatre and film about Bess of Hardwick. Written and Produced by Kevin Fegan.
“The Shed Crew” commissioned and produced by Red Ladder at Albion Electric Warehouse Leeds. Stage adaptation in verse of Bernard Hare’s best=selling true story book, “Urban Grimshaw and the Shed Crew” about feral kids living in inner-city Leeds.
“Down The Line” at Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre. A site-specific community play featuring the stage debut of the world’s most famous steam loco, “The Flying Scotsman”. Funded by Arts Council Lottery. Written and Produced by Kevin Fegan.
“The Ruck” at Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield followed by tour of Yorkshire theatres. Commissioned and funded by Creative Scene. Middle-scale touring play about girls’ rugby league, inspired by U.K. Champions Batley Bulldogs Girls and their tour of Queensland Australia.
2015-16 “The Shape of Things to Come” – Proper Job Theatre. Small-scale touring production. Loosely adapted from the original novel by H.G.Wells.
2012 “Obama the Mamba”
Produced by Artbuilding Projects in association with Curve Theatre Leicester & The Lowry Salford.
Nominated Best New Play Manchester Theatre Awards 2013
2012 “Not Much Matches Mansfield”
Large scale site-specific community play for Mansfield town centre, produced by The Palace Theatre Mansfield.
2011 & 2010 “Slave: a question of freedom”
Stage adaptation of the book “Slave” by Mende Nazer & Damien Lewis.
Commissioned & produced by Feelgood Theatre Manchester at The Lowry Nov 2010. Additional special performance at The House of Lords. Followed by national tour in 2011, including a month at Riverside Studios London.
Winner Best New Play (Pete Postlethwaite Award) Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards 2011
Winner Best Play or Film Human Trafficking Foundation 2011
2011
“Wan2tlk?”
Separate productions at the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Sydney Australia and Brit School London.
2010
“The Selkie Boy”
Play for young people commissioned & produced by The Ashton Theatre Group at Forum Theatre, Barrow-in-Furness.
2009
“Fireflies (a love story waiting to happen)”
new stage play mixing theatre and film commissioned and produced by
The Lowry in association with Lion Eyes TV Manchester.
Nominated for Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards 2011
“ABC123”
Play for young people commissioned & produced by The Ashton Theatre Group at Forum Theatre, Barrow-in-Furness.
2008
“The Forest”
Studio play commissioned & produced by The Palace Theatre, Mansfield at The Old Library Studio Mansfield & The Lowry studio Salford Quays.
“When Frankenstein Came To Matlock” –
Play for young people commissioned & produced for the main stage by The Palace Theatre, Mansfield.
2007
“Delores De L’Arge”
Commissioned & produced by Mansfield Palace Theatre for their Chapter 4 youth theatre @ The Old Library Studio Theatre Mansfield.
2006
“Oh W.O.T. A Lovely War”
Co-written with Andy Farrell as a community play commissioned & produced by The Lowry, Salford. Complete reworking of the original stage play, in the light of the “War On Terror”.
“A Site For Sore Eyes”
Community play commissioned & produced for the main stage by Palace Theatre, Mansfield.
2005
“The Ghosts of Crime Lake”
Play for young people across the diverse cultures of Oldham, commissioned & produced by Oldham Coliseum Theatre for the main stage.
2004
“Love On The Dole”
adaptation of Wallter Greenwood’s novel as a large-scale community play for the main stage, commissioned & produced by The Lowry, Salford. Nominated Best Special Entertainment Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. Subject of Granada TV documentary, “Our Big Day”.
“White Trash”
Writer/Deviser for Quarantine Theatre at Contact Manchester. Devised with 7 unemployed young men from Manchester.
Quarantine were winners of the Art 05 Award for outstanding contribution to the Arts in the North West.
“The Transit of Venus”
site-specific show for young people at Astley Hall, Lancs, commissioned by Chorley Arts.
“Captured Live”
Writer/deviser of mixed media site-specific show for young people commissioned & produced by Leicester Haymarket Theatre as part of Expo 2004.
2003
“Get Real”
Mixed media play for young people for the main stage, commissioned & produced by The Grand Theatre Blackpool .
“Eat Eat”
writer/deviser with refugees and asylum seekers for Quarantine Theatre (co-production with Leicester Haymarket) at Leicester Guildhall.
2002
“52 Degrees South”
Co-written, Co-directed & Co-Produced with Andy Farrell, a Big Theatre production at the Imperial War Museum North Manchester, commissioned by the Commonwealth Games’ Cultureshock programme. Winner Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
“Game On”
Unity Theatre Liverpool. An Arts-in-Regeneration Speke/Garston commission for pupils at New Heys Community School.
“Blast”
a Manchester Airport Commission for Manchester Poetry Festival at Contact Manchester. Stage play version of my BBC Radio 4 play.
2001
“Wan2tlk?”
Liverpool Everyman Theatre. Arts-in-Regeneration Speke/Garston commission for pupils at New Heys Community School.
2000
“Totally Wired”
Writer/Director/Producer, a Big Theatre production at Contact Theatre Manchester. Originally commissioned by West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Published by Plays International.
“White Van Man”
Writer & actor of stage play commissioned & produced by The Ashton Theatre Group at Forum Theatre, Barrow-in-Furness.
“Private Times”
Writer/Director/Producer of new production performed by prisoners at H.M.Prison Grendon. Updated version of the original Library Theatre Manchester production in 1990.
“Catch As Catch Can”
Writer & Co-producer of community play commissioned by Haslingden Regeneration at Haslingden Community Link.
“Get-Up-And-Go”
Commissioned for young people by Warrington Arts at The Millenium Dome, London.
1997
“Fever”
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester (Commissioned but not produced).
1996
“Seven-Tenths”
Commissioned & produced by Walk The Plank Theatre Ship. 6 months tour of British coastline venues. Published by Plays International. Nominated Best Special Entertainment Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
“Engineering for the Family”
stage play for Boilerhouse Theatre, Edinburgh (Commissioned but not produced).
1995
“Seven-Tenths”
For Walk The Plank Theatre Ship, North West Tour – see above.
“The Great Drought of Warwick”
site-specific community play for Warwick Castle (Commissioned but not produced).
1994
“Strange Attractors”
Commissioned & produced by Contact Theatre Manchester & co-produced by Granada Television, Manchester. The first professional stage play about virtual reality. Winner Best New Play in the Regions by Plays International magazine.
“The Clay Man”
Writer and Co-producer for El Inocente productions. A New Artswork Commission (Notts County Council Arts) co-produced with Manchester City of Drama 1994. Large-scale site-specific performances at Woolaton Hall Nottingham and Upper Campfield Market Manchester.
1993
“Liars, Fakers and People Being Honest”
Writer/deviser of new show by Talking Pictures (Lecoq company). British Tour.
“Game Challenge Level 7”
site-specific show commissioned & produced by N.I.A. Centre & Contact Theatre, Manchester. Community play for Hulme and Moss Side at the time of the “gunchester” outbreak.
1992
“Excess XS”
Commissioned & produced by Contact Theatre Manchester. First play about the rave scene. Written entirely in verse featuring a D.J. mixing live for the first time in a professional stage play. Winner Best New Play in the Regions by Plays International magazine.
“Deckchair Tales”
community play commissioned & produced by Opera North at Mansfield Leisure Centre. Devised with local writers and performed by local actors and musicians.
1991
“Lord Dynamite”
co-written with John Fox for Welfare State International. Very large scale site-specific version of our original community opera. British tour showcase event at L.I.F.T. ’91, later reworked for the island in Totnes Devon and the dockside at Newcastle-upon Tyne.
“Matey Boy”
Writer & Performer of epic dramatic poem, National tours of literature and theatre venues by El Inocente productions. Originally commissioned by Welfare State International. Published by Iron Press.
1990
“Private Times”
Commissioned & produced by The Library Theatre, Manchester. Comedy drama set in a privatised prison, staged at the time of the Strangeways riot. Nominated Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
“Lord Dynamite”
Community opera co-written with John Fox for Welfare State International at Forum 28, Barrow-in-Furness as part of “Shipyard Tales” Festival.
“Matey Boy”
Writer & Performer of epic dramatic poem for Welfare State International at Forum 28, Barrow-in-Furness as part of “Shipyard Tales” Festival.
“Rule 43”
2nd National Tour of British prisons and theatres commissioned & produced by Cracked Actors Co.
1989
“Rule 43”
1st National Tour of British prisons and theatres by Cracked Actors Co. Nominated Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
1988
“McAlpine’s Fusilier”
Commissioned & produced by Contact Theatre, Manchester. Verse play about the Irish in Britain. Nominated Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
“A”
Leicester Haymarket Theatre studio. Play about Anarchism.
“Byron”
Theatre Royal Nottingham, commissioned for Notts C.C. Acorn Youth Theatre.
1987 “Every One A Winner”
Writer & Director for Notts C.C. Acorn Youth Theatre at Edinburgh Fringe and regional Notts tour.
BBC RADIO 4
2007
“In Denial: the Story of Paul Blackburn”
Friday Night Play for B.B.C. Radio 4. Drama-documentary written in verse about a miscarriage of justice case I was involved in for years. Featuring Paul Blackburn as himself.
2003
“Racer”
Afternoon Play BBC Radio 4.
Dramatic poem about the Isle of Man TT races, performed by Paul McGann, including interviews with TT riders and staff. Published by Five Leaves.
2002
“The Tuner”
Friday Night Play BBC Radio 4 about an ex-miner who receives a call from a stranger.
2001
“The Furys”
Woman’s Hour Drama Serial for BBC Radio 4. Daily serial over 3 weeks (15x15mins). Dramatization of five novels by James Hanley, starring Oscar winning actress Brenda Fricker as Fanny Fury.
“Blast”
Afternoon Play BBC Radio 4.
Dramatic poem about the South Yorkshire steel industry, performed by Paul Copley, including interviews with former steelworkers. Published by Five Leaves. Nominated for Best Radio Drama Sony Award.
2000
“In A Grove”
Classic Drama Serial for BBC Radio 4. Adaptation of Akutagawa’s famous short story, starring Natasha McElhone, Gerard Murphy and Jack Davenport.
1993
“A Dark Corner of Our Democracy”
The Monday Play for BBC Radio 4 (Commissioned but not produced). Drama documentary about miscarriage of justice case, Anthony Alexandrowicz, which I was involved in for years.
1989
“Upon St. George’s Hill”
The Monday Play for BBC Radio 4. Comedy about a group of modern day “diggers” recreating the English Civil War.
1985
“The Joke Shop”
Afternoon Play for BBC Radio 4 about government schemes (YOPS) for the young unemployed.
TELEVISION
Storyline Writer for Coronation St., Granada Television 1997- 98.
I took responsibility for several major storylines, including the “Free Deirdre” storyline.
“Shangrila Lancs” BBC 1 1996
Co-written with BAFTA winner Henry Normal. A comedy drama series pilot commission by Susan Belbin for BBC1, but not produced.
“George Hussein Obama” VPRO TV Netherlands 2014
Part of the “Siblings” documentary series about Barack Obama’s Kenyan half-brother. I was the Gatekeeper for the documentary setting up the filming with George in the slums of Nairobi and appearing in the documentary.
“The Curious Case of Alex” Granada TV 1991
Gatekeeper/Adviser: Kevin Fegan
Director & Producer: Mike Spencer.
A 30mins Open Eye documentary by Granada Television about miscarriage of justice case, “Alex”. I led a national campaign for his release and harboured Alex while he was on the run from prison to draw attention to his case. The documentary included extracts from my prison play, “Rule 43”.
My work as a playwright & poet has been featured on dozens of television programmes over the years and I have performed on several, including Granada TV’s “Our Big Day” (a 30mins documentary about my adaptation of “Love on the Dole” as a community play for The Lowry), and guest appearances on Granada TV’s “Celebration” programme about Welfare State International’s “Shipyard Tales” in Barrow-in-Furness, the ITV international poetry series “A Word of Mouth” (compared by John Hegley, broadcast on Network ITV in the 90’s) and, more recently, BBC3 “Whine Gums”, a performance poetry series by Baby Cow Productions 2003-04.
FILM & VIDEO
“Dancing in the Ruins” 1997
Writer & Co-Producer: Kevin Fegan
Co-Producer: Nikki Parrott
Director: Stephen Ashurst
Original music: Stephen Moran.
20 mins short film about two Manchester ravers, Voodoo Ray and Jodrell Bank.
Shot on film with use of computer graphics.
Received a North West Arts Film Award (£7,500) and support in-kind from Granada Television (post-production & computer graphics). Produced by Kevin Fegan and Pomegranate Films (now Tiger Lily Films).
Screened @ Time Nightclub Manchester as the finale to Kino Festival 1997 and screened @ ICA London for a full week in 1998.
“Revelation” 2001
Co-Director & Producer: Kevin Fegan
Co-Director/D.O.P. Sara Domville.
Writer: John Sullivan.
A 5 mins video poem, shot on dv, written and performed by prisoners on location at H.M.Prison Grendon in Bucks.
Screened at H.M.Prison Grendon and a community film festival in Manchester.
“Private Times” 2002
Writer & Co-Producer: Kevin Fegan
Director & Co-Producer: Stephen Trimingham
10 mins short film designed as a taster for a feature film idea, shot on a mix of 35mm and dv, on location at H.M.Prison Grendon with prisoners and actors and a professional crew of 12 over 4 days.
Received a post-production award (£3,500) from North West Vision, South West Arts (£500), Friends of Grendon Prison (£500) and support-in-kind from Panavision (loan of £250,000 worth of equipment).
Showcased at Cannes 2002 by NW Vision. A Lonesome Trail Pictures production (Kevin Fegan & Stephen Trimingham)
“Going to the Match” 2003
Director & Producer: Kevin Fegan
Video Artist: Paul Tovey
Commissioned by The Lowry, Salford Quays.
A 40mins video diary, shot on dv, made with families of Manchester United and City supporters in response to LS Lowry’s famous painting.
Screened in The Lowry Gallery alongside Lowry’s original painting
“Cragghoppers” 2004
Co-Director & Co-Producer: Kevin Fegan
Co-Director/D.O.P.: Catherine Hunter
Commissioned by Junction Arts. Screened at Cresswell Festival Derbyshire.
A 10mins video, shot on dv, with young people from Cresswell in Derbyshire.
“Sticky Street” 2004
Lead artist & creator of project creating 2 x 5mins original soap dramas written, performed, filmed by children from Ormsgil Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness. Produced by Art Gene.
“Famous At Last” People Express 2015
Writer working with Film City to produce a “living histories” documentary about older people in South Derbyshire.
2007
EM Media Award to write a full-length feature screenplay version of my stage play, “Private Times”.
