Al Smith (playwright)
Encyclopedia
Al Smith is a British
dramatist and theatre director.
In February 2005, Smith directed Chalk, which he had written, and produced under his own production company name Kandinsky, at the Bedlam Theatre
. The following Fringe, he wrote, directed and appeared in Enola which won the Three Weeks Editors Award and was selected for NSDF.
His third play, The Astronaut Wives' Club was performed in August and September 2006 at the Soho Theatre
for the National Youth Theatre
's Soho Sextet, and his fourth play Radio premiered at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe
, before transferring to the Soho Theatre
, London
. It was then taken to 59E59, New York City
and later commissioned as an Afternoon Play for BBC Radio 4
.
He famously has a tattoo of the Edinburgh Tattoo on his right hip.
In April 2006, his play Enola, which tackles the deeply trying controversies surrounding the creation and deployment of the atom bomb during World War II, won him the Sunday Times Playwriting Award.
He is a Playwright-in-Residence at the Finborough Theatre
, London
through which he won a Pearson Bursary for Radio in December 2006. In April 2007, he won a second Sunday Times Playwriting Award, also for Radio. He also wrote the short play Mayfly for the New Voices 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic
.
He is a young writer at the Royal Court Theatre
, is currently attached to Paines Plough
, and through the Writers Academy at the BBC
is part of the regular writing team on Holby City
. He is also the Co-Creator and Co-Exec Producer of The Cut
, on BBC2.
At school Smith was a noted middle-distance runner.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dramatist and theatre director.
In February 2005, Smith directed Chalk, which he had written, and produced under his own production company name Kandinsky, at the Bedlam Theatre
Bedlam Theatre
Bedlam Theatre is a student-run theatre owned by the University of Edinburgh and notable for being the oldest student-run theatre in Britain.It is housed in the former New North Free Church building at the foot of George IV Bridge in Edinburgh; a building which was designed by Thomas Hamilton, an...
. The following Fringe, he wrote, directed and appeared in Enola which won the Three Weeks Editors Award and was selected for NSDF.
His third play, The Astronaut Wives' Club was performed in August and September 2006 at the Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre is a theatre in the eponymous Soho district of the City of Westminster. It presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret....
for the National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
's Soho Sextet, and his fourth play Radio premiered at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
, before transferring to the Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre is a theatre in the eponymous Soho district of the City of Westminster. It presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was then taken to 59E59, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and later commissioned as an Afternoon Play for BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
He famously has a tattoo of the Edinburgh Tattoo on his right hip.
In April 2006, his play Enola, which tackles the deeply trying controversies surrounding the creation and deployment of the atom bomb during World War II, won him the Sunday Times Playwriting Award.
He is a Playwright-in-Residence at the Finborough Theatre
Finborough Theatre
The Finborough Theatre is a fifty seat theatre in the Earls Court area of London, United Kingdom , which presents new British writing, UK and premieres of new plays, primarily from the English speaking world including North America, Canada, Scotland and Ireland, music theatre, and rarely seen...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
through which he won a Pearson Bursary for Radio in December 2006. In April 2007, he won a second Sunday Times Playwriting Award, also for Radio. He also wrote the short play Mayfly for the New Voices 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
.
He is a young writer at 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...
, is currently attached to Paines Plough
Paines Plough
Paines Plough is a London-based British touring theatre company founded in 1974 by writer David Pownall and director John Adams. They named the company after their favourite pub, the Plough, where they would drink pints of Paines....
, and through the Writers Academy at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
is part of the regular writing team on Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
. He is also the Co-Creator and Co-Exec Producer of The Cut
The Cut (BBC series)
The Cut is a BBC television soap opera for teenagers, first broadcast in September 2009. The series was developed by BBC Switch and Holby City writer, Al Smith in collaboration with KateModern producer Pete Gibbons and Hollyoaks director, Sarah Walker...
, on BBC2.
At school Smith was a noted middle-distance runner.