David Greig (dramatist)
Encyclopedia
David Greig is a Scottish
playwright
and theatre director.
Greig was born in Edinburgh
in 1969 and was brought up in Nigeria
. He studied drama at Bristol University. He has been commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre
, the Royal National Theatre
and the Royal Shakespeare Company
amongst others.
His first play was produced in Glasgow
in 1992. His plays have been produced around the world. In 1990 he co-founded Suspect Culture Theatre Company with Graham Eatough and Nick Powell
in Glasgow. His plays include Europe (1995), The Architect (1996, filmed in 2006 (see The Architect (film)
), The Cosmonaut's Last Message To The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union
(1999), and San Diego (2003).
Recent plays include Damascus (2007), The American Pilot (2005), Pyrenees (2005), San Diego (2003), Outlying Islands
(2002), and Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila and Lee (2006). He has provided English-language versions of foreign plays, including Camus
's Caligula (2003), and Strindberg
's The Creditors (2008). His version of Euripides
's The Bacchae
which opened the Edinburgh International Festival
in 2007 starred Alan Cumming as the Greek god Dionysus with ten gospel singers as the Bacchae. The production subsequently transferred to the Lyric Hammersmith in September of that year. In 2010 his Dunsinane
was premiered at the Hampstead Theatre
by the Royal Shakespeare Company
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
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...
and theatre director.
Greig was born in 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 1969 and was brought up in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He studied drama at Bristol University. He has been commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, the Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
and the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
amongst others.
His first play was produced in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1992. His plays have been produced around the world. In 1990 he co-founded Suspect Culture Theatre Company with Graham Eatough and Nick Powell
Nick Powell
Nicholas Edward Powell is a footballer playing as an attacking midfielder for Crewe Alexandra in Football League Two. He has also represented England at under-16 and under-17 levels.-Career:...
in Glasgow. His plays include Europe (1995), The Architect (1996, filmed in 2006 (see The Architect (film)
The Architect (film)
The Architect is an American 2006 film directed by Matt Tauber in which architect Leo Waters is confronted by angry residents of a housing complex he designed...
), The Cosmonaut's Last Message To The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union
The Cosmonaut's Last Message To The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union
The Cosmonaut's Last Message To The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union is a 2005 play by David Greig set during the collapse of the Soviet Union.-External links:...
(1999), and San Diego (2003).
Recent plays include Damascus (2007), The American Pilot (2005), Pyrenees (2005), San Diego (2003), Outlying Islands
Outlying Islands (play)
Outlying Islands is a play by David Greig, set on a remote Scottish island in the summer of 1939. Two ornithologists - young, impulsive and English Robert and the more conservative yet naive Scottish John - are sent to catalogue the bird colonies on the island...
(2002), and Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila and Lee (2006). He has provided English-language versions of foreign plays, including Camus
Camus
-People:* Albert Camus, French author, philosopher and journalist* Charles Étienne Louis Camus, French mathematician* Jean-Pierre Camus, French bishop and writer* Louis-Auguste Camus de Richemont, French military chief and baron d'Empire...
's Caligula (2003), and Strindberg
Strindberg
Strindberg may refer to:People* August Strindberg , Swedish dramatist and painter* Nils Strindberg , Swedish photographer* Anita Strindberg , Swedish actor* Henrik Strindberg , Swedish composerOther...
's The Creditors (2008). His version of Euripides
Euripides
Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to him but according to the Suda it was ninety-two at most...
's The Bacchae
The Bacchae
The Bacchae is an ancient Greek tragedy by the Athenian playwright Euripides, during his final years in Macedon, at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon. It premiered posthumously at the Theatre of Dionysus in 405 BC as part of a tetralogy that also included Iphigeneia at Aulis, and which...
which opened the Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
in 2007 starred Alan Cumming as the Greek god Dionysus with ten gospel singers as the Bacchae. The production subsequently transferred to the Lyric Hammersmith in September of that year. In 2010 his Dunsinane
Dunsinane (play)
Dunsinane is a 2010 play by David Greig. It premiered in a Royal Shakespeare Company production at the Hampstead Theatre from 10 February to 6 March 2010, directed by RSC Associate Director Roxana Silbert and with leads including Siobhan Redmond and Jonny Phillips.Its narrative is formed by the...
was premiered at the Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
by the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
.
External reference
- David Greig on www.contemporarywriters.com http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth5688A73318af1164DEYkR2FD9142