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Wikipedia / Gary Mitchell

Gary Mitchell is a Northern Irish playwright. He is best known for his plays In a Little world of Our own (1997); As the Beast Sleeps (1998); and The Force of Change (2000).

Early life

Gary Mitchell came from a working-class, loyalist background.

Career

Mitchell's first foray into writing was for Radio 4. His first play was produced by Tinderbox Theatre Company, but his first major theatre success was the production (by Connall Morrison) of his In A Little World of Our Own at the Peacock Theatre in Dublin, a gripping and unflinching portrayal of loyalist culture. It won The Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play in 1997, and it later went to Belfast as part of an Abbey Theatre tour. The following year the Peacock Theatre produced his As The Beast Sleeps.

His works have also premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre.

Recognition and awards

Mitchell was writer-in-residence at the Royal National Theatre in London in 1999.

In 2005, Angelique Chrisafis, writing in The Guardian, said that he had become "one of the most talked about voices in European theatre... whose political thrillers [had] arguably made him Northern Ireland's greatest playwright".

Personal life

In November 2005, he was forced out of his home in the Belfast suburb of Rathcoole after it was attacked by loyalist paramilitaries. He and his family had to live in hiding somewhere in Northern Ireland, which forced Mitchell to put his career on hold for five years.

Theatre

  • Aisling Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture (2006) Remnants of Fear

  • Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright (2000) The Force of Change

  • Joint winner George Divine Award (2000) The Force of Change

  • Pearson Best New Play Award (1999) Trust

  • Belfast Arts Drama Award (1998) Sinking

  • Belfast Arts Drama Award (1998) In a Little World of Our Own

  • Irish Times Best New Play Award (1997) In a Little World of Our Own

  • Stewart Parker Trust Award for Independent Voice

Film

  • Belfast Arts Award for Best Film (2002) As the Beast Sleeps

  • Best Short Film, Belfast Film Festival (2003) Suffering

Works

  1. Plays

  2. Pride of the Shore (2024) Mac Theatre, Belfast

  3. Burnt Out (2023) Lyric Theatre, Belfast

  4. Silly Moos (2023) (Primary schools) Grand Opera House, Belfast

  5. Safe as Seasons (2018) Festival, Belfast

  6. 1932:The People of Gallagher Street (2016) with Martin Lynch, The Mac, Belfast

  7. Smiley (2016) Lyric Theatre, Belfast

  8. Demented (2014) Lyric Theatre, Belfast

  9. Forget Turkey (We liked it so much we're going to Phuket again) (2013) with Dan Gordon and Colin Murphy, Lyric Theatre, Belfast

  10. Re-energize (2013) Playhouse, Derry

  11. Forget Turkey (We're going to Phuket this Christmas) (2012) with Dan Gordon and Colin Murphy, Lyric Theatre, Belfast

  12. Love Matters (2012) Aisling Ghear, Belfast

  13. Suicide Blonde (2010) Old Red Lion, London

  14. Remnants of Fear (2005) Dubbeljoint, Belfast

  15. Loyal Women (2003) Royal Court Downstairs, London

  16. The Force of Change (2000) Royal Court Upstairs/Downstairs, London

  17. Marching On (2000) Lyric, Belfast

  18. Holding Cell (2000) Tinderbox, Belfast

  19. Energy (1999) Playhouse, Derry

  20. Trust (1999) Royal Court Upstairs, London

  21. Tearing the Loom (1998) Lyric, Belfast

  22. As the Beast Sleeps (1998) Peacock, Dublin

  23. In a Little World of Our Own (1997) Peacock, Dublin

  24. Sinking (1997) Replay, Belfast

  25. That Driving Ambition (1995) Replay, Belfast

  26. Alternative Future (1994) Point Fields, Belfast

  27. Independent Voice (1993) Tinderbox, Belfast

  28. Radio plays

  29. Tubes (2022) RTE Radio 1

  30. Fighting Cowardice (2014) RTÉ Radio 1

  31. Ulster Volunteers (2014) RTÉ Radio 1

  32. Loves Worst Day (2013) BBC Radio 4

  33. Babies (2012) RTÉ Radio 1

  34. Freedom of Poverty (2011) RTÉ Radio 1

  35. Ian Really Likes Mary (2010) RTÉ Radio 1

  36. Echoes of War (2009) BBC Radio 3

  37. Forgotten People Part Two (2009) RTÉ Radio 1

  38. Forgotten People Part One (2009) RTÉ Radio 1

  39. Just 'Cause (2008) RTÉ Radio 1

  40. Loyal Women (2003) BBC Radio 4

  41. The Force of Change (2002) BBC Radio 4

  42. As the Beast Sleeps (2001) BBC Radio 4

  43. At the Base of the Pyramid (1997) BBC Radio 4

  44. Drumcree (1996) BBC Radio 4

  45. Dividing Force Episode Three: Useless Tools (1995) BBC Radio 4

  46. Dividing Force Episode Two: Raising the Standard (1995) BBC Radio 4

  47. Dividing Force Episode One: Above the Law (1995) BBC Radio 4

  48. Stranded (1995) BBC Radio 3

  49. Mandarin Lime (1995) with Jimmy Murphy BBC Radio 3

  50. Poison Hearts (1994) BBC Radio 4

  51. Independent Voice (1993) BBC Radio 4

  52. A Tearful of Dreams (1993) BBC Radio 4

  53. The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1991) BBC Radio 4

  54. Television

  55. Eight Days That Made Rome (episodes) (2017) Channel 5 (UK)

  56. Films

  57. Suffering (2003) Writer/director

  58. As the Beast Sleeps (2002) BBC 2

  59. An Officer From France (1998) RTÉ 1

  60. Made in Heaven (1996) BBC Education

  61. Published Plays

  62. Burnt Out (2023)

  63. Loyal Women (2003)

  64. As the Beast Sleeps (2001)

  65. The Force of Change (2000)

  66. Trust (1999)

  67. Tearing the Loom (1998)

  68. In a Little World of Our Own (1998)

See also

References