Charles Wood (playwright)
Encyclopedia
Charles Wood is a playwright
and scriptwriter
for radio, television, and film. He lives in England
.
His work has been staged at the Royal National Theatre
as well as at the Royal Court Theatre
and in the theatres of the Royal Shakespeare Company
. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
in 1984. Wood served in the 17th/21st Lancers
and military themes are found in many of his works.
- his parents were actors in a repertory company playing in Guernsey at the time - he left the island with his parents when he was still only an infant. His parents worked as actors in repertory and fit-ups mainly in the north of England and Wales
and had no fixed place of abode. His education was, until the outbreak of the Second World War
, sporadic. The family settled in Chesterfield
, Derbyshire
in 1939. The first house they rented was 1 Cromwell Road and the second was 20 Abercrombie Street. He attended St Mary's Catholic Primary School from which he was awarded a Special Place at Chesterfield Grammar School
.
At the war's end, the family relocated to Kidderminster
in Worcestershire where Charles Wood obtained a place at King Charles I Grammar School
. He was by now old enough to work in the theatre managed by his father Jack Wood. This was The Playhouse, demolished to make way for a traffic island. He worked as a stagehand and electrician and assistant to various scenic artists in his spare time at weekends and every night. He also played small parts in the repertory company produced by his father. His mother Mae Harris was a leading actress in the company. In 1948, Charles Wood gained entrance to Birmingham School of Art
to study Theatrical Design and lithography.
He joined the Army
in 1950, and served five years with the colours and seven years on reserve. He was discharged with the rank of corporal, reduced to trooper on entering the Regular Army Reserve. He served nowhere of any importance and was only rated "Conduct: Very Good. No medals."
He married Valerie Newman, an actress, in 1954. She was working in repertory in a theatre at Worcester
, the Theatre Royal, once the second oldest working theatre in the country.
On leaving the Army, he worked as an electronic wireman at BAC
, Filton
. Later he worked as a scenic artist, layout artist, stage manager in England and Canada
.
His plays include: Cockade, three one-act plays (the already mentioned) Prisoner and Escort, John Thomas, and Spare, Arts Theatre
, (1963); Meals on Wheels, Royal Court Theatre, (1965); Don't Make Me Laugh, Aldwych Theatre
, Royal Shakespeare Company, (1966); Fill The Stage With Happy Hours, Nottingham Playhouse
, Vaudeville Theatre
, (1967); Dingo, Bristol Arts Centre, Royal Court Theatre, (1967), Jingo Aldwch Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company (1975), and many others. His last play was Across From the Garden of Allah, Comedy Theatre (1986).
He has written many works for television, including the story of Robert Lawrence
MC
in Tumbledown
, which he wrote first as a feature film after many interviews with Robert Lawrence. Lawrence later wrote his own version of his story called "When the Fighting is Over". He adapted three episodes of Sharpe
, and A Breed of Heroes (adapted from the novel by Alan Judd
). He also wrote the mini-series Wagner
(1983) with Richard Burton
and Vanessa Redgrave
, and Puccini.
His work in cinema includes The Knack …and How to Get It (1965) Grand Prix Cannes, Screenwriters Guild Award. Help!
(1965) with the Beatles
, How I Won the War
(1967) with John Lennon
, The Charge of the Light Brigade
(1968) and Iris (2001) Humanitas Award. Christopher Award
. His radio play "Conspiracy at Sevres" was nominated by the WGGB in the best radio play category for 2007.
Wood's plays are now rarely revived. His play Jingo was revived by Primavera
at the Finborough Theatre
in March 2008, directed by Tom Littler. Jingo, subtitled A Farce of War, is set during the last days of British control of Singapore before the humiliating surrender to the Japanese. Susannah Harker
played Gwendoline and Anthony Howell her ex-husband Ian.
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 scriptwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
for radio, television, and film. He lives in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
His work has been staged at 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...
as well as 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...
and in the theatres of 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...
. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
in 1984. Wood served in the 17th/21st Lancers
17th/21st Lancers
The 17th/21st Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1993.It was formed in 1922 in England by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers . From 1930 to 1939 it was deployed overseas; first in Egypt for two years, and then in India for seven...
and military themes are found in many of his works.
Biography
Though he was born in GuernseyGuernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
- his parents were actors in a repertory company playing in Guernsey at the time - he left the island with his parents when he was still only an infant. His parents worked as actors in repertory and fit-ups mainly in the north of England and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and had no fixed place of abode. His education was, until the outbreak of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, sporadic. The family settled in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
in 1939. The first house they rented was 1 Cromwell Road and the second was 20 Abercrombie Street. He attended St Mary's Catholic Primary School from which he was awarded a Special Place at Chesterfield Grammar School
Brookfield Community School
Brookfield Community School is a school located on Chatsworth in the west of the town of Chesterfield, Derbyshire in England.-Admissions:Brookfield Community School is a secondary school and a Sports College And A Language College...
.
At the war's end, the family relocated to Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
in Worcestershire where Charles Wood obtained a place at King Charles I Grammar School
King Charles I School
King Charles I School is a voluntary controlled mixed school in the town of Kidderminster, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England.-Present Day and OFSTED:...
. He was by now old enough to work in the theatre managed by his father Jack Wood. This was The Playhouse, demolished to make way for a traffic island. He worked as a stagehand and electrician and assistant to various scenic artists in his spare time at weekends and every night. He also played small parts in the repertory company produced by his father. His mother Mae Harris was a leading actress in the company. In 1948, Charles Wood gained entrance to Birmingham School of Art
Birmingham School of Art
The Birmingham School of Art was a municipal art school based in the centre of Birmingham, England. Although the organisation was absorbed by Birmingham Polytechnic in 1971 and is now part of Birmingham City University's Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, its Grade I listed building on...
to study Theatrical Design and lithography.
He joined the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1950, and served five years with the colours and seven years on reserve. He was discharged with the rank of corporal, reduced to trooper on entering the Regular Army Reserve. He served nowhere of any importance and was only rated "Conduct: Very Good. No medals."
He married Valerie Newman, an actress, in 1954. She was working in repertory in a theatre at Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, the Theatre Royal, once the second oldest working theatre in the country.
On leaving the Army, he worked as an electronic wireman at BAC
British Aircraft Corporation
The British Aircraft Corporation was a British aircraft manufacturer formed from the government-pressured merger of English Electric Aviation Ltd., Vickers-Armstrongs , the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Hunting Aircraft in 1960. Bristol, English Electric and Vickers became "parents" of BAC with...
, Filton
Filton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
. Later he worked as a scenic artist, layout artist, stage manager in England and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Writings
Charles Wood wrote his first play, Prisoner and Escort, in 1959. It was a play for television which was first performed on radio, then on the stage and later on television.His plays include: Cockade, three one-act plays (the already mentioned) Prisoner and Escort, John Thomas, and Spare, Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. It now operates as the West End's smallest commercial receiving house.-History:...
, (1963); Meals on Wheels, Royal Court Theatre, (1965); Don't Make Me Laugh, Aldwych Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Aldwych in the City of Westminster. The theatre was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200.-Origins:...
, Royal Shakespeare Company, (1966); Fill The Stage With Happy Hours, Nottingham Playhouse
Nottingham Playhouse
The Nottingham Playhouse is a theatre in Nottingham, England. It was first established as a repertory theatre in the 1950s when it operated from a former cinema. Directors during this period included Val May and Frank Dunlop.-The building:...
, Vaudeville Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on The Strand in the City of Westminster. As the name suggests, the theatre held mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. It opened in 1870 and was rebuilt twice, although each new building retained elements of the previous...
, (1967); Dingo, Bristol Arts Centre, Royal Court Theatre, (1967), Jingo Aldwch Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company (1975), and many others. His last play was Across From the Garden of Allah, Comedy Theatre (1986).
He has written many works for television, including the story of Robert Lawrence
Robert Lawrence (British Army officer)
Robert Alasdair Davidson Lawrence MC is a former British Army officer who fought and was severely wounded in the Falklands War...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in Tumbledown
Tumbledown
Tumbledown is a 1988 BBC Television drama film set during the Falklands War.-Synopsis:The film centres on the experiences of Robert Lawrence MC , an officer of the Scots Guards during the Falklands Campaign of 1982. While fighting at the Battle of Mount Tumbledown, Lawrence is shot in the head by...
, which he wrote first as a feature film after many interviews with Robert Lawrence. Lawrence later wrote his own version of his story called "When the Fighting is Over". He adapted three episodes of Sharpe
Sharpe (TV series)
Sharpe is a British series of television dramas starring Sean Bean about Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe is the hero of a number of novels by Bernard Cornwell; most, though not all, of the episodes are based on the books...
, and A Breed of Heroes (adapted from the novel by Alan Judd
Alan Judd
Alan Judd aka Alan Petty is a former soldier and diplomat who now works as a security analyst and writer in the United Kingdom. He writes both books and articles, regularly contributing to a number of publications, including The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator...
). He also wrote the mini-series Wagner
Wagner (mini-series)
Wagner is a 1983 film on the life of Richard Wagner. The title role was played by Richard Burton, who said it was the role he was born to play...
(1983) with Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
and Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave, CBE is an English actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a political activist.She rose to prominence in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has since made more than 35 appearances on London's West End and Broadway, winning...
, and Puccini.
His work in cinema includes The Knack …and How to Get It (1965) Grand Prix Cannes, Screenwriters Guild Award. Help!
Help! (film)
Help! is a 1965 film directed by Richard Lester, starring The Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr—and featuring Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, John Bluthal, Roy Kinnear and Patrick Cargill. Help! was the second feature film made by the Beatles and is a...
(1965) with the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, How I Won the War
How I Won the War
How I Won the War is a black comedy film directed by Richard Lester, released in 1967. The film stars Michael Crawford as bungling British Army Officer Lieutenant Earnest Goodbody, with John Lennon , Jack MacGowran , Roy Kinnear and Lee Montague as soldiers under his command...
(1967) with John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, The Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968 film)
The Charge of the Light Brigade is a 1968 British war film made by Woodfall Film Productions and distributed by United Artists . It was directed by Tony Richardson and produced by Neil Hartley....
(1968) and Iris (2001) Humanitas Award. Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
. His radio play "Conspiracy at Sevres" was nominated by the WGGB in the best radio play category for 2007.
Wood's plays are now rarely revived. His play Jingo was revived by Primavera
Primavera Productions
Primavera is a professional theatre company founded in 2003 by Tom Littler, who is also the Artistic Director. It is based in London, UK.Primavera is particularly noted for its revivals of rarely performed plays, although this does not seem to be its exclusive focus. This has included the...
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...
in March 2008, directed by Tom Littler. Jingo, subtitled A Farce of War, is set during the last days of British control of Singapore before the humiliating surrender to the Japanese. Susannah Harker
Susannah Harker
Susannah Harker is an English film, television, and theatre actor. She is the daughter of English actress Polly Adams and actor Richard Owens, and the great-niece of Gordon Adams. She was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 1990 for her role as Mattie Storin in House of Cards...
played Gwendoline and Anthony Howell her ex-husband Ian.
Selected writings
- Plays: "Veterans" & "Across from the Garden of Allah" (Oberon Books, 1997)
- Plays: "H", "Jingo", "Dingo" (Oberon Books, 1999)
- Plays: "Fill the Stage with Happy Hours", "Red Star", "Ms.Courage" (Oberon Books, 2005)
- Screenplay: "Tumbledown" (Penguin 1987)
- Screenplay: "Iris" (Bloomsbury, 2002)