Simon Stephens

Simon Stephens (born 6 February 1971 in Manchester) is an English playwright. 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 two of his plays, Harper Regan and Motortown, had their U.S. premieres. 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.

Contents

• Hear from olivier award winning playwright simon stephens
• Simon stephens on playwriting
• Life
• Plays
• Awards
• References

Life

Originally from Stockport, Greater Manchester, Stephens graduated from the University of York with a degree in History. 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 quitting to become a professional playwright.

He was a member of Scottish art punk band Country Teasers.

He lives in London with his wife and three children.

Plays

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)

Heisenberg (2015) premiered Off-Broadway at the New York City Center-Stage II, directed by Mark Brokaw

Song From Far Away (2015) premiered at the Young Vic, directed by Ivo van Hove

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

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

Pornography won the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play in 2008-09

On the Shore of The Wide World won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2006

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