[4], Pearl performed at the Crucible Theatre in Sarah Kane's Crave and 4.48 Psychosis [5] and at the Bush Theatre in The Angry Brigade (play). That book is already a metaphor so you dont need to shrink it by saying, Is Big Brother Facebook?, His output may seem eclectic but to Graham theres a common thread: Great stories from our recent past that are useful vessels for exploring anxieties and tensions that were all dealing with today. The Guardian's Michael Billington described This House as "enthralling" in his five star review of the play after its West End opening. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. Tory Boyz touched on the sexuality of Edward Heath, Little Madam charted Thatchers formative youth, Sons of York revisited the Winter of Discontent and Edens Empire examined Anthony Edens career up to the Suez Crisis. WebDramatist and screenwriter James Graham (Teri Pengilley/The Independent) If youve never heard of James Graham before, you certainly will have by the end of this spring. And in attempting to make the stories relate to each other and so being somewhat subservient to Grahams linking plots theres a bit of a sense that were not necessarily seeing the writers really let rip.That said Sketching is not without its moments, and as a rule the storylines be it Grahams Peter Piper Has a Plan, about a career criminal plotting an inscrutable heist, or Himanshu Ojhas The Hand of Hozan, about a sewage worker who wanders into a police station with a dismembered hand fizz with promise and knowing London references, even if some struggle to hold onto the momentum. At the same time, he was researching his new play, Best of Enemies, about 11 landmark televised debates between Gore Vidal and William F Buckley Jr in August 1968. Barrie (based on the WebJames Graham OBE, one of the UKs most prolific playwrights, has made his name exploring a veritable mix of subjects over the years. James Graham interview: A right honourable playwright at 30. The playwright explains why hes now tackling 11 vitriolic TV debates that gripped America. Ashfield-born playwright James Graham reveals hometown inspiration behind forthcoming BBC TV drama Sherwood For the past couple of years I have been writing and producing a new television drama set in Ashfield where I grew up, and inspired by tragic events that took place here, writes playwright James Graham. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. (Though I was sad not to see Adam Hughess play Petras Polski Sklep).All that accepted, it has a terrifically versatile cast of five, with particularly strong comic chops from Sophie Wu and Samuel James. As a political dweeb, I was embarrassed that Id never heard about these debates.. What happened to him in 1984? Superstar playwright James Graham joins forces with a host of unknown writers for this erratic night of London stories. On his 10-year anniversary as Conservative leader, Cameron still escapes definition. PODCAST: Growth Podcast - Episode 3 - The Budget is Coming! Davids brain is extraordinary, Graham says. The CBI is the UK's premier business organisation, providing a voice for firms at a regional, national and international level to policymakers. This House was revived in 2016 and ran for two years, first in the West End and then on a national tour. The Guardian journalist Carole Cadwalladr accused Graham of portraying Cummings (not then a public figure) as a Sherlockian maverick. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama and young people in British theatre. "Graham brilliantly captures the daily machinations of politics," he wrote. Im not naturally good at broadcast media. He hadnt planned to become a spokesperson for theatre He has written powerful dramas about the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Dominic Cummings. They were impossibly articulate., Best of Enemies, which will be staged at Londons Young Vic, is based on a 2015 documentary of the same name. I wouldnt say my background was Left or Right but a dialogue between the two, and maybe thats why I can tell a story like this without feeling like I have an axe to grind politically., Will there be more of this type? Read about our approach to external linking. It was about the people and something more timeless I wanted to look at the strange, ridiculous brilliance of the system in that building, either side of the lobby.. Broughton, kept unaware, stayed put but died shortly afterwards anyway. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. James Grahams deftness at dramatising post-war politics has earned him a smash hit with This House at the National, says Dominic Cavendish . Hes that rare beast: a political playwright who doesnt tell you where to stand. He shrugs off the bumper ratings of Quiz (Everyone was bored and stuck at home) and frequently frets about sounding wanky. A psychologist would probably assign to where I grew up my interest in differences of opinion, he says. James Graham OBE FRSL (born 8 July 1982) is a British playwright and screenwriter. His dramas include The Coalition, Ink, and Sherwood September 2022 At last the curtain falls on Boris Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Chanda's debut performance was playing Nina in The Seagull for Headlong (theatre company), alongside Abigail Cruttenden in 2013[2]. But who killed him? This autumn, Graham will have two new plays running in the West End, including his Rupert Murdoch play Ink. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history - sent every Wednesday. His other credits include musical Finding Neverland - for which Graham wrote the script and Gary Barlow the music and lyrics - and Privacy, which made its debut on Broadway earlier this year starring Daniel Radcliffe. Do these things have any bearing at all on his death? As an endeavour its noble. Wikipedia article James Graham (playwright). He wrote the book for the Broadway musical Finding Neverland, and two of his own plays, Privacy and Ink (for which he received his first Tony Award nomination), transferred to Broadway. As I watched, I thought all the time of where I grew up: the ginnels and the commons, the family that had one too many broken down cars outside their farmhouse. This wouldnt be particularly noteworthy were it not for the fact that, aged 30, he has written the most absorbing account of the crisis-ridden period from 1974 to 1979 ever to have hit the London stage. WebIn 2017 Pearl Chanda originated the Role of Stephanie Marrian, the first Page 3 Girl, in James Graham (playwright) play Ink with was directed by Rupert Goold for the Almeida Theatre before transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. James Graham was born on 8 August 1982 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. His work has been staged throughout the UK and internationally, at theatres including the Bush, Soho Theatre, Clwyd Sympathy for the devil? The process of writing the first draft was the hardest Ive ever experienced. His recent work includes Quiz, the hit ITV drama last easter surrounding the 'coughing major' game show trial. And: Daniel Trilling on how the media covers refugees, The language we use in public and on social media has repercussions. Sherwood has a stunning cast. [See also: My Name is Leon: a horribly preachy drama]. As an actual night of entertainment its solid. WebPlaywright and screenwriter James Graham explores the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland with IWM curator Craig Murray and conflict eyewitness Jo Taylor. The rest, as they say, is Thatcherite history. James Graham is a British writer, known for his work on stage and television. The play was described as "magnificently sharp and witty" by Fiona Mountford in The Evening Standard. (Though I was sad not to see Adam Hughess play Petras Polski Sklep). The first step must be greater civility, says playwright James Graham, Brexit shorts: dramas from a divided nation, Are you Fawlty, Edina, Partridge or Brent? where Chanda's Performance was described as a 'revelation[12]' and 'superb' [13], Chanda began appearing in small guest roles in Holby City, and in Mr. Turner by Mike Leigh. MGCfutures Plus. WebJames Graham - PlaywrightNot Yet Rated. Graham has previously written a short play about Brexit for The Guardian, Peter Landi and Lauren O'Neil appear in This House, Phil Daniels and Steffan Rhodri are also in the cast of This House, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, Aboriginal spears taken in 1770 to return to Sydney, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart. For sure, he says, without going into too much detail. Bertie Carvel as Rupert Murdoch in Ink. WebJames Graham OBE FRSL is a British playwright and screenwriter. Like everyone else, Ive been preoccupied with how we talk to one another on our new platforms and how unhealthy and dangerous that sometimes feels. Comedian Jack Whitehall, who also attended Wednesday evening's press performance, described it on Twitter as an "incredible, amazing production". A boyish 39, Graham has enough contagious excitement to make anyone consider jacking in their job and joining a theatre company. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The most generous view of Buckley is were all capable of being the very worst version of ourselves at the very worst moment. His best-known work is Finding Neverland, the musical about playwright J.M. In the penultimate debate, Vidal called him a crypto-Nazi and Buckley notoriously turned feral, calling Vidal you queer and threatening to sock you in your goddamn face. When communities are divided, the pain endures, We Begin Again: a musical for 2020 video, British theatre has a class problem, and coronavirus could make it worse, A letter to my post-lockdown self: Keep listening to the birds, 30 years of televised parliament: how Westminster became mainstream entertainment, Cracked actor: stage stars review Boris Johnson's debut as PM, Understanding Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons chief strategist. Graham and his wife are the brand ambassador of "Affinity Diamonds" and the company shared a beautiful picture of the couple on their official Facebook Page. James Graham got married to his long-term partner, Taryn Burgess in a private ceremony. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, Harlow Makenna Graham in January 2016. I dont know why we think of art as this sacred thing that takes place in cities with posh people., Graham says he was a bit of a mess during lockdown, which he spent alone in south London, but he was certainly productive. 'Tammy Faye' will open at the Almeida Theatre in October 2022. In 2019 Graham wrote and executive produced a three-part TV adaptation of his stage play Quiz which aired in 2020. In June 2018, Graham was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in its "40 Under 40" initiative. In January 2019, Graham's life and work was the subject of an in-depth BBC One documentary as part of the Imagine series. Graham has written a crime drama, and its gripping in all the usual ways. As he explains in a soft Nottingham drawl: I was nervous that people would come in and say: 'I remember that, I lived through that, these are the things that interest me about that story and youve not focused on them., Im aware that This House doesnt dwell on the parties policies, he continues, and I thought that might be something people found to be a wasted opportunity. Diane Paulus was artistic director. I hope thats a generous instinct and not a self-preservation instinct. He played Martin Luther King. Award-winning Playwright-in-Residence James Graham reunites with former Finborough Theatre Associate Director Kate Wasserberg to present a blackly comic and uniquely interactive storytelling event a different actor, telling a story in a different order, selected at random, every single night. But Graham confirmed that his TV drama will "specifically tackle what happened" in the run-up to the EU referendum on 23 June. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Thats a good question, Graham says. In 2022, it was announced that Graham had written the book for a new musical about the life of televangelist Tammy Faye Messner, with Elton John and Jake Shears writing the music. Its either Moneyball or Cool Runnings: the underdogs who change the world. James Graham is a playwright and screenwriter. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This House deals with the struggles of the Labour government between 1974 and 1979. How can a modern audience still sympathise with him? Inspired by Charles Dickenss exuberant Boz, Sketching weaves together a number of lively London-set playlets from nine writers. Yes, on the evidence of what Ive seen so far, its that good. His work has been staged throughout the UK and Were having lunch in a busy restaurant near the Young Vic, where Graham is busy rewriting the script during rehearsals. Chanda starred alongside Richard Coyle who played Larry Lamb and Bertie Carvel who played Rupert Murdoch. Coming from a young upstart like Graham, its almost a coup dtat. Sometimes I think I was too hard, but not very often. Cummings gung-ho contempt for journalists, MPs and judges while he was at No 10 did make Graham think twice. The playwright has previously written a short play about Brexit for The Guardian as well as The Vote, a play set in a polling station, which was televised on More4 on the night of the 2015 general election. A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. It felt as if I put my head down and charged along a corridor, not looking back once. He finished the first draft a week later. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. ", She added: "Both a treat and a triumph, this is a superlative night out in the West End.". Read about our approach to external linking. Or the Seventies, full stop? [6], In 2015 she played Laura in The Glass Menagerie at the Nuffield Theatre with Danny Lee Wynter and Belinda Lang,[7] and in 2016 played Miss Julie directed by Rebecca Frecknall for Northern Stage. This is probably quite a sensible idea (the show runs at 2.5 hours as it is), but it clearly limits the exposure everyones getting, and theres not a huge amount of clarity about which plays will be on when. Graham, a playwright whose TV work includes Quiz and Brexit: The Uncivil War, has said that his series is not only based on real events, but that he grew up in the village where these things happened and its this, of course, that explains Sherwoods incredible sense of place (precisely the thing I find most often to be lacking in shows set in places other than London). Its a funny old portrait of twenty-first century London:a bit Richard Curtis-y, with little real sense of the capitals cultural diversity bar a dodgy Asian shop owner and a refugee we see only in flashbacks. During the 1968 party conventions in America, the struggling ABC network attempted to juice its ratings by pitting Vidal, aristocratic chaos agent of the left, against Buckley, arch-conservative editor of the National Review, for the ensuing culture-war fireworks. I wanted to know what it was like to eject a really p----- Member from the Strangers Bar at 11 oclock at night.. Plus its not every day you get to see new work by the guy who did This House in an East End music hall. James' play This House premiered at the National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre in September 2012 and transferred to the bigger Olivier in 2013 and then a West End revival in 2016. Enemies, traitors, saboteurs: how can we face the future with this anger in our politics? By James Graham All rights reserved. By Grahams telling, in the decades since, memories have faded only a little. Conflict of Interest is kindly In 2019 Graham wrote and executive produced a three-part TV adaptation of his stage play Quiz which aired in 2020. His play This House gained critical acclaim, enjoyed a sell-out run at the National Theatre's Olivier James Graham is a British playwright and television writer. The series is set no prizes for guessing in a village in Nottinghamshire, the county where, 30 years ago, many men continued to work during the long and painful miners strike, a decision that was personally agonising and often quite dangerous: the buses in which they travelled to the pits were attacked; those who crossed picket lines were scabs, and never to be forgiven (Arthur Scargill, the leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, whose power base was further north in Yorkshire, said this explicitly). Had Labour MP Alfred Broughton been brought from his deathbed to Westminster an action not beyond the realms of possibility in those desperate times the government would have hung on by one vote. These have included American Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Thats why I think the death of drama in schools is terrifying, he says, because drama forces you to interrogate and empathise with people you dont like. WebBritish playwright and television writer James Graham OBE FRSL (born 8 July 1982) is a British playwright and screenwriter. Barrie was writer. Next up: a fiery white rightwinger, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. "We haven't really changed much of it, James has kept the same script," he told the BBC. In January 2019, Graham's life and work was the subject of an in-depth BBC One do*entary as part of the Imagine series. [1][8], In 2017 Pearl Chanda originated the Role of Stephanie Marrian, the first Page 3 Girl, in James Graham (playwright) play Ink with was directed by Rupert Goold for the Almeida Theatre before transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre. It took me about two months to get through the first 20 minutes of the play. Finally something clicked. Politics never felt like something that was alien to me, or Westminster-based. He was filled with trepidation, he says, about taking on a period of recent history at a venue as prestigious as the National, knowing that many of those involved in the events described are still alive and would also have their assumptions about what mattered during those times.
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