Tom McGrath (playwright)
Encyclopedia
This article is about the Scottish playwright. For other people named Tom McGrath, see Thomas McGrath
.
Tom McGrath (born 23 October, 1940 in Rutherglen
, Glasgow
, died 29 April 2009) was a Scottish
playwright and jazz pianist.
During the mid 1960s he was associated with the emerging UK underground
culture, participating in Alexander Trocchi
's Project Sigma, working as features editor of Peace News
, and becoming founding editor of the International Times
.
During the early 1970s he worked with Billy Connolly
on The Great Northern Welly-Boot Show. From 1974 to 1977 he was director of the Third Eye Centre (named after the influence of Sri Chinmoy
), an arts centre on Sauchiehall Street
in Glasgow.
During this time, he wrote the popular play Laurel and Hardy. In 1977 he worked with Jimmy Boyle
(then recently released from the Special Unit at Barlinnie jail) on the play The Hardman. McGrath's autobiographical 1979 play The Innocent
relates his drug use and addiction during the counter-culture 1960s.
In 1986 he wrote the script for a short film commissioned by COSLA and produced by Glasgow Film and Video Workshop. The film was written as a comedy-drama and toured Scotland on a bus after being shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
Thomas McGrath
Thomas McGrath may refer to:* Thomas McGrath , Northern Irish builder who founded Ulster Garden Villages* Thomas McGrath , American poet best-known for Letter To An Imaginary Friend...
.
Tom McGrath (born 23 October, 1940 in Rutherglen
Rutherglen
Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In 1975, it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow. In 1996 Rutherglen was reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.-History:...
, 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...
, died 29 April 2009) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
playwright and jazz pianist.
During the mid 1960s he was associated with the emerging UK underground
UK underground
The Underground was a countercultural movement in the United Kingdom linked to the underground culture in the United States and associated with the hippie phenomenon. Its primary focus was around Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill in London...
culture, participating in Alexander Trocchi
Alexander Trocchi
Alexander Whitelaw Robertson Trocchi was a Scottish novelist.-Early career:Trocchi was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and Italian father. After working as a seaman on the Murmansk convoys, he attended University of Glasgow. On graduation he obtained a traveling grant that enabled him to...
's Project Sigma, working as features editor of Peace News
Peace News
Peace News is a pacifist magazine first published on 6 June 1936 to serve the peace movement in the United Kingdom. From later in 1936 to April 1961 it was the official paper of the Peace Pledge Union , and from 1990 to 2004 was co-published with War Resisters' International.-History:Peace News was...
, and becoming founding editor of the International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
.
During the early 1970s he worked with Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
on The Great Northern Welly-Boot Show. From 1974 to 1977 he was director of the Third Eye Centre (named after the influence of Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
), an arts centre on Sauchiehall Street
Sauchiehall Street
Sauchiehall Street is one of the main shopping/business streets in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Along with Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, it forms the main shopping area of Glasgow, containing the majority of Glasgow's high street and chain stores.Although commonly associated with the...
in Glasgow.
During this time, he wrote the popular play Laurel and Hardy. In 1977 he worked with Jimmy Boyle
Jimmy Boyle (artist)
Jimmy Boyle is a Scottish sculptor, novelist and convicted criminal.In 1967 he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of another gangland figure, William "Babs" Rooney...
(then recently released from the Special Unit at Barlinnie jail) on the play The Hardman. McGrath's autobiographical 1979 play The Innocent
The Innocent (play)
The Innocent is a 1979 play by Scottish playwright Tom McGrath. It was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Warehouse Theatre in London, opening on 24 May 1979...
relates his drug use and addiction during the counter-culture 1960s.
In 1986 he wrote the script for a short film commissioned by COSLA and produced by Glasgow Film and Video Workshop. The film was written as a comedy-drama and toured Scotland on a bus after being shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival.