About me

I am a playwright and short story writer. My work has been performed all around the country, and my last full length play, Care Takers, won a Stage Edinburgh award at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival. My first play, Smilin' Through won the 2003 Writing Out award for best new gay play and went on to be produced by Contact and Birmingham Rep and was nominated for best new play 2005 by the Manchester Evening News.

My Plays

Care Takers


Synopsis:

Ms Lawson, a new teacher at St Margaret’s High School, believes Jamie Harrow is being bullied because he’s gay. She wants to help, but Mrs Rutter, the Deputy Head, thinks it will sort itself out. Is she speaking from experience or is there something more unsavoury about her unwillingness to help?


Number of Characters: 2


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 2


Length (in Pages): 60


Location: Deputy Head Teacher's office


Key Words: gay, education, queer, homophobia, schools


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? Yes


Award nominations/wins: Stage Edinburgh Award 2016 Critics Choice of best plays Edinburgh 2016


Reviews:

https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/05-2009/caretakers_17059.html/

https://www.whatsonstage.com/blackpool-theatre/news/01-2010/care-takers-re-play-manchester_14540.html/

Heart is a Lonely Hunter


Synopsis:

A young man and an old man fall in love, but has someone been manipulated?

A gentle tale of intergenerational love, denial and acceptance.


Number of Characters: 2


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 2


Length (in Pages): 60


Location: Various locations Brighton


Key Words: gay, queer, love, drama, intergenerational


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? No


Award nominations/wins:


Reviews:

Smilin' Through


Synopsis:

Kyle, a young gay man, comes out to his staunchly presbyterian mother. When she tells him to get out of the house, he barricades himself in his bedroom and goes on hunger strike until she changes her mind.


Number of Characters: 10


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 6


Length (in Pages): 90


Location: Belfast, terraced house


Key Words: gay, queer, political, Irish, comedy, feel-good


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? Yes


Award nominations/wins: 2003 Writing Out Award, Finborough Theatre 2005 Nominated for Best New Play by Manchester Evening News


Reviews:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/apr/23/theatre2

https://www.truantcompany.com/smilin-through

https://www.thetimes.com/article/smilin-through-rhr6g99kn5s

Stigmata


Synopsis:

Would you lie and make false claims to change something about the world you don't like? Would you hammer nails into your hands and pretend to receive messages from Christ? A young, radical dyke might.


Number of Characters: 4


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 4


Length (in Pages): 70


Location: A flat, manchester


Key Words: gay, queer, comedy, farce, religion, abuse


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? No


Award nominations/wins:


Reviews:

https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/stigmata-review-at-drill-hall-london

Stigmata


Synopsis:

Would you lie and make false claims to change something about the world you don't like? Would you hammer nails into your hands and pretend to receive messages from Christ? A young, radical dyke might.


Number of Characters: 4


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 4


Length (in Pages): 70


Location: A flat, manchester


Key Words: gay, queer, comedy, farce, religion, abuse


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? No


Award nominations/wins:


Reviews:

https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/stigmata-review-at-drill-hall-london

Still Ill


Synopsis:

Ulster 2008. Ten years after Peace.

When two old Smiths fans reunite a world of violence reopens in this tragic love story between ‘the jumped up pantry boy’ and ‘the boy with the thorn in his side.’


Number of Characters: 4


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 4


Length (in Pages): 80


Location: Northern Ireland - various locations


Key Words: gay, queer, northern ireland, terrorism, drugs, paramilitary


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? Yes


Award nominations/wins: 2010 Winner of Warehouse Theatre's International Playwriting Award (under the title Transitions)


Reviews:

https://www.liverpoolsalon.org.uk/still-ill-review/

https://www.whatsonstage.com/salford-theatre/news/still-ill-tour-lowry_36466.html/

The Right Ballerina


Synopsis:

Jack, the Artistic Director of the country's leading dance company, is forced to make some difficult decisions when Penny, his principal dancer, is outed as a member of a right-wing organisation. A sustained campaign of protest by a group headed by Mr X brings the company to near bankruptcy and Jack is forced to meet Mr X's ever - increasing demands. Is Penny about to lose more than her career and reputation?


Number of Characters: 4


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 4


Length (in Pages): 80


Location: London, Artistic Director\'s Office


Key Words: political, thriller, drama, cancel culture


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? Yes


Has the Play Been Published? Yes


Award nominations/wins:


Reviews:

https://jildysauce.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/the-right-ballerina/

https://theplaysthethinguk.com/2016/10/13/the-right-ballerina-hen-chickens-theatre/

https://www.theatrereviews.design/the-right-Ballerina-5-stars/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIiqmRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHe7nM5BdZ9VWbAa3YAQPpNthhZ0AVBExqyY2vNDx8xBXXX5cWJXJQq8PaA_aem_6g6SQar60CeDsaFp3DjtTA

 

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Billy cowan
@ staffiebull

Location

Manchester

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