Michael Wilcox
Encyclopedia
Michael Wilcox, born on 6 June 1943 in Totnes
, Devon
, is a British playwright
.
He was resident playwright at the Dovecot Arts Centre in Stockton-on-Tees for the 1977 season.
In 1980, he was resident playwright at the Traverse Theatre
, Edinburgh
.
In 2008, he signed a letter against Bush Theatre budget cuts. He was educated at Alleyn Court School, Westcliff-on-Sea; Malvern College
in Worcestershire; Borough Road College in Isleworth, London, where he trained to be a teacher; and University College London
, where he achieved a BA Honours degree in English Literature.
In the early 70s, Michael Wilcox founded Northern Playwrights Society with dramatist C.P.Taylor to promote the interests of playwrights living in the Northern Arts region. This has evolved into New Writing North, which is one of Britain's most successful regional writers' agencies.
In addition to his theatre writing, Wilcox edited five volumes of "Gay Plays" for Methuen, who also published his autobiographical journal of 1989, "Outlaw in the Hills". His monograph "Benjamin Britten's Operas" was published by Absolute Press in 1997 and was shortlisted by the Royal Philharmonic Society for its music book of the year award.
Wilcox has also worked as opera librettist for John Metcalf's "Tornrak
" (Welsh National Opera: 1990) and Eddie McGuire's "Cullercoats Tommy" (Northern Sinfonia and Northern Stage: 1993). For Opera North, he worked with Jeremy Sams on a new libretto for Chabrier's Le roi malgré lui
that was first staged at the Edinburgh International Festival as "The Reluctant King" in 1995.
His television dramas include episodes of "Crown Court" and "Cluedo", "Cricket" (BBC TV : Plays for Tomorrow:1981), "Accounts" (C4 : Film on Four:1982), "Lent" (BBC TV : 1985 : Pye and TRICS awards for best script of the year), "Inspector Morse : Last Bus to Woodstock" (1988) and "Doctor Finlay : Winning the Peace" (STV : 1993).
He has also served as a board member for Northern Arts, Northern Stage
, NTC Touring Company, and, for some years, was on the Arts Council of England's New Theatre Writing Panel.
His latest play, "Betty and Maud" (2010), had its world premiere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on board a Saga cruise liner.
Michael Wilcox has two feature length films in development, "Helen Stanley" and "Last Ride on the Golden Mile".
He lives near Haltwhistle
in Northumberland
and also cares for Kevin, a feral cat. He still plays cricket for Haltwhistle in the West Tyne League.
His agent is Sarah McNair of Alan Brodie Representations (ABR).
Radio plays:-
Opera libretti:-
Television dramas:-
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, is a British playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
He was resident playwright at the Dovecot Arts Centre in Stockton-on-Tees for the 1977 season.
In 1980, he was resident playwright at the Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
In 2008, he signed a letter against Bush Theatre budget cuts. He was educated at Alleyn Court School, Westcliff-on-Sea; Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
in Worcestershire; Borough Road College in Isleworth, London, where he trained to be a teacher; and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where he achieved a BA Honours degree in English Literature.
In the early 70s, Michael Wilcox founded Northern Playwrights Society with dramatist C.P.Taylor to promote the interests of playwrights living in the Northern Arts region. This has evolved into New Writing North, which is one of Britain's most successful regional writers' agencies.
In addition to his theatre writing, Wilcox edited five volumes of "Gay Plays" for Methuen, who also published his autobiographical journal of 1989, "Outlaw in the Hills". His monograph "Benjamin Britten's Operas" was published by Absolute Press in 1997 and was shortlisted by the Royal Philharmonic Society for its music book of the year award.
Wilcox has also worked as opera librettist for John Metcalf's "Tornrak
Tornrak
Tornrak is the third opera by Welsh composer John Metcalf. It has an English-language libretto by Michael Wilcox with Inuktitut sections translated by Blendina Makkik. Set between the worlds of the Canadian Arctic and Victorian Britain, it features Inuit throat singing and other extended vocal...
" (Welsh National Opera: 1990) and Eddie McGuire's "Cullercoats Tommy" (Northern Sinfonia and Northern Stage: 1993). For Opera North, he worked with Jeremy Sams on a new libretto for Chabrier's Le roi malgré lui
Le roi malgré lui
Le roi malgré lui is an opéra-comique in three acts by Emmanuel Chabrier with an original libretto by Emile de Najac and Paul Burani. The opera is revived occasionally, but has not found a place in the repertory, mainly because of the poor libretto...
that was first staged at the Edinburgh International Festival as "The Reluctant King" in 1995.
His television dramas include episodes of "Crown Court" and "Cluedo", "Cricket" (BBC TV : Plays for Tomorrow:1981), "Accounts" (C4 : Film on Four:1982), "Lent" (BBC TV : 1985 : Pye and TRICS awards for best script of the year), "Inspector Morse : Last Bus to Woodstock" (1988) and "Doctor Finlay : Winning the Peace" (STV : 1993).
He has also served as a board member for Northern Arts, Northern Stage
Northern Stage
Northern Stage is a non-profit, regional professional company located in White River Junction, Vermont. The company began in 1992 to offer high-quality professional theater in northern New England...
, NTC Touring Company, and, for some years, was on the Arts Council of England's New Theatre Writing Panel.
His latest play, "Betty and Maud" (2010), had its world premiere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on board a Saga cruise liner.
Michael Wilcox has two feature length films in development, "Helen Stanley" and "Last Ride on the Golden Mile".
He lives near Haltwhistle
Haltwhistle
Haltwhistle is a small town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, situated east of Brampton, near Hadrian's Wall, and the villages of Plenmeller, Rowfoot and Melkridge...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
and also cares for Kevin, a feral cat. He still plays cricket for Haltwhistle in the West Tyne League.
His agent is Sarah McNair of Alan Brodie Representations (ABR).
Awards
- 1980 Thames Television Award
- 1981 George Devine Award
- 1983 British Theatre Association : Most promising playwright
- 1985 Pye Television Award : Best scripted contribution to television for "Lent" (BBC TV : Screen Two)
- 1985 TRICS Award : Best single play for "Lent"
Works
Theatre plays:-- The Boy Who Cried Stop, Tyneside Theatre Company 1974
- Grimm Tales, Tyneside Theatre Company, 1975
- The Atom Bomb Project, Tyneside Theatre Company 1975
- Roar Like Spears, Alabama Drama Institute, 1975
- The Backetts Of Bright Street, Dovecot Arts Centre, Stockton-on-Tees, 1977
- Phantom Of the Fells, Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1977
- Pioneers, Dovecot Actors Workshop, 1977
- Mowgli, Dovecote Youth Theatre, 1978
- Dekka and Dava, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1978
- Rents, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 1979
- Werffitt!, Manor Park School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1980
- Accounts, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 1981
- Lent, Lyric Studio Theatre, Hammersmith, London, 1983
- 78 Revolutions, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and Lyric Studio Theatre, Hammersmith, London 1984
- Massage, Lyric Studio Theatre, Hammersmith, London 1986
- Green Fingers, Live Theatre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1990
- Time Windows, Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea, 1992
- Rock'n'Roll & Barbirolli, Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea, 1999
- Mrs Steinberg And The Byker Boy, Bush Theatre, London 2000
- Betty and Maud, Drama at Sea, 2010
Radio plays:-
- Standard Procedure, BBC Radio : Afternoon Theatre 1976
- Accounts, BBC Radio : The Monday Play 1982
- Lent, BBC Radio : Saturday Night Theatre 1993
Opera libretti:-
- TornrakTornrakTornrak is the third opera by Welsh composer John Metcalf. It has an English-language libretto by Michael Wilcox with Inuktitut sections translated by Blendina Makkik. Set between the worlds of the Canadian Arctic and Victorian Britain, it features Inuit throat singing and other extended vocal...
, composer John Metcalf : Welsh National Opera 1990 - Cullercoats Tommy, composer Eddie McGuire : Northern Sinfonia and Northern Stage 1993
- The Reluctant King, with Jeremy Sams : composer Chabrier : Opera North 1995
Television dramas:-
- Clean Sweep, STV 1981
- Cricket, Plays for Tomorrow, BBC TV 1981
- Accounts, Film on Four, Channel 4 TV 1982
- Midnight Feast, STV 1982
- In Disgrace, STV 1983
- Burnt Futures, three "Crown Court" episodes, Granada TV 1983
- A Party to Crime, three "A Case for Justice" episodes (entire 18 episode series filmed but never broadcast) Granada TV 1984
- Inspector Morse : Last Bus to Woodstock, Central TV, 1988
- Doctor Finlay : Winning the Peace, STV 1992
External links
- "Not much sold in Big Sell Off", BBC Radio 5 LiveBBC Radio 5 LiveBBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
, 29 July 2010