About The Playwright

Playwright David Edgar was born in Birmingham on 26 February 1948. He was educated at Oundle School and read Drama at Manchester University. After a short career in journalism, he took up writing full time in 1972.

Most of his early plays were written for the Bradford University Theatre Group and by the mid 1970s he was receiving regular commissions from repertory theatres and small touring groups. He began his long term relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1976. David’s plays have been directed by the incumbent Artistic Directors of both the major British companies; Trevor Nunn for the RSC and Peter Hall for the National Theatre. His work has been performed and/or published in Ireland, throughout Europe, America and as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan. Apart from a prolific and successful career as a writer for the stage, David also writes for television, radio and film, and his first libretto The Bridge was performed as part of the Covent Garden Festival in 1998.

David’s other work includes Destiny (1976), winner of the John Whiting award, The Jail Diary Of Albie Sachs (1978), The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby (1980), winner of the Society of West End Theatres Best Play award and a Tony Award (USA), Maydays (1983), winner of the Plays and Players award for Best Play, The Shape Of The Table (1990), written for the Royal National Theatre in London, and Pentecost (1994), winner of the Evening Standard award for Best Play of the Year.