Stewart Parker
Encyclopedia
James Stewart Parker was a Northern Irish
poet and playwright.
He was born in Sydenham, Belfast, of a Protestant working class family. While still in his teens, he contracted bone cancer and had a leg amputated. He studied for an MA in Poetic Drama at Queen's University, Belfast on a scholarship before commencing teaching in the United States at Hamilton College and Cornell University
.
Parker was a member of a group of young writers which included Seamus Heaney
and Bernard MacLaverty
in the early 1960s at Queen's University in Belfast. In British Poetry since 1945, Edward Lucie-Smith
calls him "a rawer, rougher, more unformed poet than either of the other two Belfast poets presented here" (i.e. Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon). He notes that all three are post-Movement and neo-Georgian, owing little to William Butler Yeats
and not much more to Patrick Kavanagh
.
Following his return to Northern Ireland he worked as a freelance writer, contributing a column on pop music to The Irish Times
. He later moved to Great Britain where he wrote for radio, television and the stage. The musical landscape of Belfast is integral to his work as a playwright. One could arguably call him the Van Morrison
of the Irish Theatre
. He would be honoured by the title, as Van Morrison was one of his favourite artists.
Parker died of cancer in London.
The stage plays are published by Methuen Drama. Stewart Parker: Plays 1 (2000) includes "Spokesong", "Catchpenny Twist", "Nightshade" and "Pratt's Fall". Stewart Parker: Plays 2 (2000) includes "Northern Star", "Heavenly Bodies" and "Pentecost".
An annual award (The Stewart Parker Trust Award) for best Irish debut play was set up in his name after his death. There is a cash bursary as part of the award. Previous recipients of the award include: Conor McPherson
, Mark O'Rowe
, Enda Walsh
, Eugene O'Brien, Gerald Murphy and Christian O'Reilly.
Several new publications appeared in 2008, the twentieth anniversary of Parker's death. These include:
. It was commissioned by BBC Radio 3
in April 1975 and televised for ITV Playhouse
in March 1979.
In Belfast
, where the play is set, music librarian Nelson Gloverby (Bryan Murray
) lives in a dream world. A Showband singer by night, he is unconcerned with audience irritation at his inability to stick to the proper lyrics. He is innocently drawn into the brutality of the Troubles
when he meets siren Sandra Carse (Jeananne Crowley
). His world having been turned around, he takes the bus home. The bus driver is singing the lyrics I'm a Dreamer, Montreal; this time it is Nelson who points out the correct lyrics: I’m a Dreamer, Aren't We All?.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
poet and playwright.
He was born in Sydenham, Belfast, of a Protestant working class family. While still in his teens, he contracted bone cancer and had a leg amputated. He studied for an MA in Poetic Drama at Queen's University, Belfast on a scholarship before commencing teaching in the United States at Hamilton College and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Parker was a member of a group of young writers which included Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
and Bernard MacLaverty
Bernard MacLaverty
Bernard MacLaverty is a writer of fiction. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 14 September 1942, and lived there until 1975 when he moved to Scotland with his wife, Madeline, and four children...
in the early 1960s at Queen's University in Belfast. In British Poetry since 1945, Edward Lucie-Smith
Edward Lucie-Smith
John Edward McKenzie Lucie-Smith is a British writer, poet, art critic, curator, broadcaster and author of exhibition catalogues.-Biography:Lucie-Smith was born in Kingston, Jamaica, moving to the United Kingdom in 1946...
calls him "a rawer, rougher, more unformed poet than either of the other two Belfast poets presented here" (i.e. Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon). He notes that all three are post-Movement and neo-Georgian, owing little to William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
and not much more to Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, his best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and the poems Raglan Road and The Great Hunger...
.
Following his return to Northern Ireland he worked as a freelance writer, contributing a column on pop music to The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. He later moved to Great Britain where he wrote for radio, television and the stage. The musical landscape of Belfast is integral to his work as a playwright. One could arguably call him the Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
of the Irish Theatre
Irish theatre
The history of Irish theatre begins with the Gaelic Irish tradition. Much of the literature in that Celtic language was destroyed by conquest, except for a few manuscripts and fragments, such as the Book of Fermoy...
. He would be honoured by the title, as Van Morrison was one of his favourite artists.
Parker died of cancer in London.
Work
His plays include " Spokesong" (1975), a musical "Kingdom Come" (1977), "Catchpenny Twist" (1977), "Nightshade" (1979), "Pratt's Fall" (1981), "Northern Star" (1984), "Heavenly Bodies" (1986) and "Pentecost" (1987).The stage plays are published by Methuen Drama. Stewart Parker: Plays 1 (2000) includes "Spokesong", "Catchpenny Twist", "Nightshade" and "Pratt's Fall". Stewart Parker: Plays 2 (2000) includes "Northern Star", "Heavenly Bodies" and "Pentecost".
An annual award (The Stewart Parker Trust Award) for best Irish debut play was set up in his name after his death. There is a cash bursary as part of the award. Previous recipients of the award include: Conor McPherson
Conor McPherson
Conor McPherson is an Irish playwright and director.-Life and career:McPherson was born in Dublin, . He was educated at University College Dublin, McPherson began writing his first plays there as a member of UCD Dramsoc, the college's dramatic society, and went on to found Fly By Night Theatre...
, Mark O'Rowe
Mark O'Rowe
- Personal Background :Mark O'Rowe was born in 1970 in Dublin, Ireland, to parents Hugh and Patricia O'Rowe. He grew up in Tallaght, a working class suburb just south of Dublin, and he claims that much of the violence in his work stems from watching and rewatching a tremendous amount of violent,...
, Enda Walsh
Enda Walsh
Enda Walsh is an Irish playwright born in Dublin and currently living in London. Walsh attended the same secondary school where both Roddy Doyle and Paul Mercier taught. Having written for the Dublin Youth Theatre, he moved to Cork where he wrote Fishy Tales for the Graffiti Theatre Company,...
, Eugene O'Brien, Gerald Murphy and Christian O'Reilly.
Several new publications appeared in 2008, the twentieth anniversary of Parker's death. These include:
- A collection of Parker's articles on popular music for the Irish Times entitled High Pop: Irish Times Column 1970-1976, edited by Gerald Dawe and Maria Johnston (Belfast: Lagan, 2008) ISBN: 9781904652595
- A collection of Parker's reviews and articles on culture, entitled Dramatis Personae and Other Writings, edited by Gerald Dawe, Maria Johnston and Clare Wallace (Prague: Litteraria Pragensia, 2008) ISBN: 9788073082413
- A collection of Parker's plays for television, entitled Stewart Parker: Television Plays, edited by Clare Wallace (Prague: Litteraria Pragensia, 2008) ISBN: 9788073082406. The plays included are this collection are: "Lost Belongings"; "Radio Pictures"; "Blue Money"; "Iris in the Traffic, Ruby in the Rain"; "Joyce in June"; and "I’m a Dreamer, Montreal"
I’m a Dreamer, Montreal
Parker's play "I’m a Dreamer, Montreal" won the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial PrizeChristopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize
The Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize was created in 1977, in memory of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, British Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, who was assassinated by the IRA in 1976....
. It was commissioned by BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
in April 1975 and televised for ITV Playhouse
ITV Playhouse
ITV Playhouse was a UK comedy-drama TV series that ran from 1967 to 1983, which featured contributions from playwrights such as Dennis Potter, Rhys Adrian and Alan Sharp. The series began in black and white, but was later shot in colour and was produced by various companies for the ITV network, a...
in March 1979.
In Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, where the play is set, music librarian Nelson Gloverby (Bryan Murray
Bryan Murray (actor)
Bryan Murray is an Irish actor.As a stage actor he began his career in Dublin at The Abbey Theatre where, as a member of The Abbey Company, he appeared in over 50 productions. He has appeared many times at the Gate Theatre in Dublin most recently in Celebration by Harold Pinter for the 2010 Dublin...
) lives in a dream world. A Showband singer by night, he is unconcerned with audience irritation at his inability to stick to the proper lyrics. He is innocently drawn into the brutality of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
when he meets siren Sandra Carse (Jeananne Crowley
Jeananne Crowley
Jeananne Crowley is an Irish actress and writer, remembered for her collaborations in British film and television. She appeared in the film Educating Rita and is possibly best known for her role as Nellie Keene in the BBC drama series Tenko.-Screen:Recently, Crowley has appeared in The Clinic and...
). His world having been turned around, he takes the bus home. The bus driver is singing the lyrics I'm a Dreamer, Montreal; this time it is Nelson who points out the correct lyrics: I’m a Dreamer, Aren't We All?.
External links
- I'm A Dreamer Aren't We All (1929)
- Irish Playography entry
- http://www.lagan-press.org.uk/ Lagan Press
- http://litteraria.ff.cuni.cz/ Litteraria Pragensia Books
- Stewart Parker Trust website