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{{short description|British playwright}}
{{short description|British playwright (born 1971)}}
{{Distinguish|Simon James Stevens|Simon Stevens}}
{{Distinguish|Simon James Stevens|Simon Stevens}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name = Simon Stephens
| name = Simon Stephens
| image = <!--See infobox image policy for guidelines-->
| image = Simon Stephens as of 2023.jpg
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption = Simon Stephens officiating a wedding in France (August 2023)
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|02|06|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|02|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Manchester]], England
| birth_place = [[Manchester]], England
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| nationality = British-Irish
| spouse = Polly Heath
| spouse = Polly Heath
| children =
| children =
| occupation = [[Playwright]]
| occupation = [[Playwright]]
| period =
| period =
| influences =
| influences =
| influenced =
| influenced =
| awards =
| awards =
| website =
| website =
| portaldisp = y
| portaldisp = y
}}
}}


'''Simon Stephens''' (born 6 February 2022) is an English [[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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Steep Theatre Opens 13th Season with Simon Stephens' MOTORTOWN Premiere Tonight|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Steep-Theatre-to-Open-13th-Season-with-Simon-Stephens-MOTORTOWN-Premiere-Today-20131002|website=broadwayworld.com|publisher=BMW News Desk|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-wastwater-steep-ent-0720-20160719-column.html|title='Wastwater' plumbs depths of human despair|last=Jones|first=Chris|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2017/07/14/steep-theatres-2017-18-season-includes-new-simon-stephens-play/|title=Steep Theatre's 2017-18 Season Includes New Simon Stephens Play|date=2017-07-14|work=AMERICAN THEATRE|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/may/21/britain-germany-theatre-culture-difference-exchange-playwrights-directors|title=Going Deutsch: Britain and Germany's theatre exchange|last=Haydon|first=Andrew|date=2015-05-21|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2017-02-09|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
'''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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Steep Theatre Opens 13th Season with Simon Stephens' MOTORTOWN Premiere Tonight|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Steep-Theatre-to-Open-13th-Season-with-Simon-Stephens-MOTORTOWN-Premiere-Today-20131002|website=broadwayworld.com|publisher=BMW News Desk|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-wastwater-steep-ent-0720-20160719-column.html|title='Wastwater' plumbs depths of human despair|last=Jones|first=Chris|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2017/07/14/steep-theatres-2017-18-season-includes-new-simon-stephens-play/|title=Steep Theatre's 2017-18 Season Includes New Simon Stephens Play|date=2017-07-14|work=AMERICAN THEATRE|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> His writing is widely performed throughout Europe and, along with [[Dennis Kelly (writer)|Dennis Kelly]] and [[Martin Crimp]], he is one of the most performed English-language writers in [[Germany]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/may/21/britain-germany-theatre-culture-difference-exchange-playwrights-directors|title=Going Deutsch: Britain and Germany's theatre exchange|last=Haydon|first=Andrew|date=2015-05-21|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2017-02-09|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


==Life==
==Life==

{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
Originally from [[Stockport]], [[Greater Manchester]],<ref name="Birthplace">{{cite web |title=Simon Stephens: Stockport state of mind |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jan/23/simon-stephens-port |website=The Guardian |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref> Stephens graduated from the [[University of York]] with a degree in History.<ref name="Degree">{{cite web |last1=Salt |first1=Nathan |title=Stockport playwright Simon Stephens inspires Salford students with school visit |url=http://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2016/10/05/simon-stephens-visits-salford-high-school/ |website=Salford Now |publisher=Salford Now |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=2016-10-05}}</ref> After university, he lived in Edinburgh for several years, where he met his future wife Polly, before later completing a [[Postgraduate Certificate of Education|PGCE]] at the [[UCL Institute of Education|Institute of Education]]. He worked as a teacher for a few years, before quitting to become a professional playwright. In 2017, Simon Stephens was appointed to a Professorship at the Manchester School of Writing, at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Originally from [[Stockport]], [[Greater Manchester]],<ref name="Birthplace">{{cite web |title=Simon Stephens: Stockport state of mind |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jan/23/simon-stephens-port |work=The Guardian |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref> Stephens graduated from the [[University of York]] with a degree in History.<ref name="Degree">{{cite web |last1=Salt |first1=Nathan |title=Stockport playwright Simon Stephens inspires Salford students with school visit |url=http://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2016/10/05/simon-stephens-visits-salford-high-school/ |website=Salford Now |publisher=Salford Now |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=2016-10-05}}</ref> After university, he lived in Edinburgh for several years, where he met his future wife Polly, before later completing a [[Postgraduate Certificate of Education|PGCE]] at the [[UCL Institute of Education|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]].
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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Alice |title=Theatre director Simon Stephens' 'A Working Diary' reveals a rollercoaster year |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/theatre-director-simon-stephens-working-diary-5025 |website=[[i (newspaper)|i]] |access-date=30 January 2023 |date=2 May 2016}}</ref>
He lives in London with his wife and three children.


==Plays==
==Plays==
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* ''Blindness'' (2020). Premiered at [[Donmar Warehouse]], directed by Walter Meierjohann. Adaptation of [[José Saramago]]'s novel of the same name.
* ''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 (theatre director)|Sean Holmes]]<ref>{{Cite news |title='Fortune' updates Faust's devilish deal |newspaper=[[The Japan Times]] |date=3 January 2020 |last=Tanaka |first=Nobuko |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/01/03/stage/fortune-updates-fausts-devilish-deal/ |access-date=24 February 2020 |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. }}</ref>
* ''Fortune'' (2020). Premiered at [[Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre]], directed by [[Sean Holmes (theatre director)|Sean Holmes]]<ref>{{Cite news |title='Fortune' updates Faust's devilish deal |newspaper=[[The Japan Times]] |date=3 January 2020 |last=Tanaka |first=Nobuko |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/01/03/stage/fortune-updates-fausts-devilish-deal/ |access-date=24 February 2020 |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. }}</ref>
* ''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<ref>{{cite web |title=‘A Love Letter to Brexit Britain,’ Simon Stephens’ ‘Rage’ Premieres at RWCMD |url=https://blog.rwcmd.ac.uk/press-release/a-love-letter-to-brexit-britain-simon-stephens-rage-premieres-at-rwcmd/ |website=Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama |publisher=Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref>Revival cast premiere at the [[University of Wales Trinity Saint David]] (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=UWTSD Students to perform Simon Stephens’ Rage |url=https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/news/press-releases/press-2020/uwtsd-students-to-perform-simon-stephens-rage.html |website=University of Wales Trinity Saint David |publisher=University of Wales Trinity Saint David |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref>
*''Rage'' (2018) premiered at the [[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]], directed by Elle While<ref>{{cite web |title='A Love Letter to Brexit Britain,' Simon Stephens' 'Rage' Premieres at RWCMD |url=https://blog.rwcmd.ac.uk/press-release/a-love-letter-to-brexit-britain-simon-stephens-rage-premieres-at-rwcmd/ |website=Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama |publisher=Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref> Revival cast premiere at the [[University of Wales Trinity Saint David]] (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=UWTSD Students to perform Simon Stephens' Rage |url=https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/news/press-releases/press-2020/uwtsd-students-to-perform-simon-stephens-rage.html |website=University of Wales Trinity Saint David |publisher=University of Wales Trinity Saint David |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref>
* ''Obsession'' (2017). (English translation of Jan Peter Gerrits' play) Premiered at the [[Barbican Centre]], directed by [[Ivo Van Hove]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/legit/reviews/obsession-review-jude-law-1202402714/ |title='Obsession' Review: Jude Law Stars in London – Variety |website=variety.com|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref>
* ''Obsession'' (2017). (English translation of Jan Peter Gerrits' play) Premiered at the [[Barbican Centre]], directed by [[Ivo Van Hove]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/legit/reviews/obsession-review-jude-law-1202402714/ |title='Obsession' Review: Jude Law Stars in London – Variety |website=variety.com|date=28 April 2017 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref>
* ''The Seagull'' (2017). Premiered at the [[Lyric Hammersmith]], directed by [[Sean Holmes (theatre director)|Sean Holmes]]
* ''The Seagull'' (2017). Premiered at the [[Lyric Hammersmith]], directed by [[Sean Holmes (theatre director)|Sean Holmes]]
* ''Fatherland'' (2017). Co-created with [[Frantic Assembly]]'s Scott Graham and [[Karl Hyde]] for the [[Manchester International Festival]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]].
* ''Fatherland'' (2017). Co-created with [[Frantic Assembly]]'s Scott Graham and [[Karl Hyde]] for the [[Manchester International Festival]] at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]].
*''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' (2016) premiered at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]], directed by [[Rufus Norris]], a new adaptation of [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s book and lyrics (music by [[Kurt Weill]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/threepenny-opera|title=The Threepenny Opera {{!}} National Theatre|website=nationaltheatre.org.uk|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
*''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' (2016) premiered at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]], directed by [[Rufus Norris]], a new adaptation of [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s book and lyrics (music by [[Kurt Weill]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/threepenny-opera|title=The Threepenny Opera {{!}} National Theatre|website=nationaltheatre.org.uk|date=2 March 2016 |access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
*''[[Heisenberg (play)|Heisenberg]]'' (2015) premiered [[Off-Broadway]] at the New York City Center-Stage II, directed by [[Mark Brokaw]]<ref>[http://lortel.org/Archives/Production/5995 ''Heisenberg''] lortel.org, accessed 3 February 2016</ref>
*''[[Heisenberg (play)|Heisenberg]]'' (2015) premiered [[Off-Broadway]] at the New York City Center-Stage II, directed by [[Mark Brokaw]]<ref>[http://lortel.org/Archives/Production/5995 ''Heisenberg''] lortel.org, accessed 3 February 2016</ref>
*''Song From Far Away'' (2015) premiered at the [[Young Vic]], directed by Ivo van Hove<ref>Gardner, Lynn. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/sep/06/song-from-far-away-review "'Song from Far Away' review – Simon Stephens sneaks a late emotional punch"] ''The Guardian'', 6 September 2015</ref>
*''Song From Far Away'' (2015) premiered at the [[Young Vic]], directed by Ivo van Hove<ref>Gardner, Lynn. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/sep/06/song-from-far-away-review "'Song from Far Away' review – Simon Stephens sneaks a late emotional punch"] ''The Guardian'', 6 September 2015</ref>
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[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:People from Stockport]]
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[[Category:Alumni of the University of York]]
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[[Category:English male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century English male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century English male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century English male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English diarists]]
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[[Category:Writers from Stockport]]
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[[Category:Alumni of the University of York]]
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[[Category:English male dramatists and playwrights]]

Latest revision as of 21:06, 9 November 2024

Not to be confused with Simon James Stevens or Simon Stevens.

Simon Stephens
Simon Stephens officiating a wedding in France (August 2023)
Simon Stephens officiating a wedding in France (August 2023)
Born (1971-02-06) 6 February 1971 (age 53)
Manchester, England
OccupationPlaywright
NationalityBritish-Irish
SpousePolly Heath
Literature portal

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Steep Theatre Opens 13th Season with Simon Stephens' MOTORTOWN Premiere Tonight". broadwayworld.com. BMW News Desk. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  2. ^ Jones, Chris. "'Wastwater' plumbs depths of human despair". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Steep Theatre's 2017-18 Season Includes New Simon Stephens Play". AMERICAN THEATRE. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. ^ Haydon, Andrew (21 May 2015). "Going Deutsch: Britain and Germany's theatre exchange". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Simon Stephens: Stockport state of mind". The Guardian. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  6. ^ Salt, Nathan (5 October 2016). "Stockport playwright Simon Stephens inspires Salford students with school visit". Salford Now. Salford Now. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  7. ^ Jones, Alice (2 May 2016). "Theatre director Simon Stephens' 'A Working Diary' reveals a rollercoaster year". i. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. ^ Tanaka, Nobuko (3 January 2020). "'Fortune' updates Faust's devilish deal". The Japan Times. Tokyo, Japan: The Japan Times, Ltd. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  9. ^ "'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.
  10. ^ "UWTSD Students to perform Simon Stephens' Rage". University of Wales Trinity Saint David. University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ^ "'Obsession' Review: Jude Law Stars in London – Variety". variety.com. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  12. ^ "The Threepenny Opera | National Theatre". nationaltheatre.org.uk. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  13. ^ Heisenberg lortel.org, accessed 3 February 2016
  14. ^ Gardner, Lynn. "'Song from Far Away' review – Simon Stephens sneaks a late emotional punch" The Guardian, 6 September 2015
  15. ^ "Carmen Disruption", Deutsches Schauspielhaus, 2014
  16. ^ "Blindsided", Royal Exchange Theatre, 2014
  17. ^ "Birdland", Royal Court Theatre, 2014
  18. ^ "London", Salisbury Playhouse, 2012, archived from the original on 28 July 2012
  19. ^ "Morning", Lyric Hammersmith, 2012, archived from the original on 19 July 2012
  20. ^ "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time", Royal Court Theatre, 2012
  21. ^ "A Doll's House", Young Vic, 2012, archived from the original on 17 July 2012
  22. ^ "A Doll's House", Brooklyn Academy of Music, 2014
  23. ^ "Three Kingdoms", Theatre NO99, 2011, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
  24. ^ "Three Kingdoms", Lyric Theatre, 2011, archived from the original on 8 December 2011
  25. ^ "I Am The Wind", Young Vic, 2011, archived from the original on 13 January 2015
  26. ^ "Wastwater", Royal Court Theatre, 2011
  27. ^ "The Trial of Ubu", Hampstead Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 November 2011
  28. ^ "T5", Picture House, 2010
  29. ^ "A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky", Lyric Hammersmith, 2010, archived from the original on 4 June 2012
  30. ^ "Marine Parade", ETT, 2010
  31. ^ "Punk Rock", Royal Exchange Theatre, 2009, archived from the original on 7 October 2011
  32. ^ "Sea Wall", Bush Theatre, 2008, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
  33. ^ Walker, Lynne (2007), "Pornography Review", The Independent, London
  34. ^ "Harper Regan", National Theatre, 2007, archived from the original on 27 September 2011
  35. ^ "Motortown", Royal Court Theatre, 2006
  36. ^ "Premieres; On the Shore of the Wide World" (PDF), Royal Exchange Theatre, 2005, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2012
  37. ^ "Country Music", Royal Court Theatre, 2004
  38. ^ "Christmas", Bush Theatre, 2004, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
  39. ^ "One Minute", ATC, 2003
  40. ^ Hickling, Alfred (14 November 2002), "Port Review", The Guardian, London
  41. ^ "Herons", Royal Court Theatre, 2001
  42. ^ "Bluebird", Royal Court Theatre, 1998
  43. ^ "'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' Broiadway" playbillvault.com, accessed 3 February 2016
  44. ^ "Olivier Awards, 2013" olivierawards.com, accessed 3 February 2016
  45. ^ "Evening Standard theatre awards" standard.co.uk, 9 November 2009
  46. ^ "Awards 2010" uktheatre.org, accessed 3 February 2016
  47. ^ "Awards, 2008-09" criticsawards.theatrescotland.com, accessed 3 February 2016
  48. ^ "Olivier Awards, 2006" olivierawards.com, accessed 3 February 3016
[edit]
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