Dennis Kelly
Encyclopedia
Dennis Kelly is a London-based writer for both the theatre and television. Oberon plays have published a volume of Dennis Kelly Plays; Debris
, After the End
, Osama the Hero
and Love and Money
. In television he is best known for his work on BBC Three
's sitcom Pulling.
, North London, in an Irish family and was brought up a Catholic. His father was a bus conductor, and Kelly, one of five children, left school at 16.
Brought up on a council estate he said "There is a theatre version of a council estate, and it doesn't look like any council estate I've ever been on. Council estates are really diverse, especially in London. You get all sorts of people. Working-class people have the same vocabulary as anyone else. Some read the Guardian, some read the Sun, some read the Telegraph." About growing up on a council estate Kelly has said;
While working in supermarkets, he discovered theatre when he joined a local youth group, the Barnet Drama Centre. " He then took a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts and received a first from Goldsmiths College
, London. He wrote his first play Debris
when he was 30.
His plays include Debris
(Theatre 503
, 2003/ Battersea Arts Centre
, 2004), Osama the Hero
(Hampstead Theatre
, 2005), After the End
produced by Paines Plough
at the Traverse
/ Bush Theatre
, 2005/ UK and international tour 2006), Love and Money
(Royal Exchange, Manchester
and Young Vic, 2006) and Taking Care of Baby (Hampstead Theatre
, 2007). In 2007 he also wrote DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, written for the National Theatre
Connections Festival in 2007. His most recent play Orphans was staged in 2009 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
and transferred to Traverse Theatre
in Edinburgh in August 2009 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
His work has been produced in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, The Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Australia, Japan, the United States, Belgium, Romania and Canada. Other work includes translations of Péter Kárpáti’s The Fourth Gate (National Theatre
Studio) and The Colony, a radio play which won Best European Radio Drama at the Prix Europa, 2004.
He also co-wrote the BBC Three
sitcom, Pulling with writer/actress Sharon Horgan
.
Kelly was one of the ten writers who took part in writing monologues based on a children's account for a one off event at the Old Vic Theatre directed by Danny Boyle
in London in support of Dramatic Need
in 2010. His three monologues were performed by Ben Kingsley
, Jenny Jules
and Charlie Cox
.
Despite very good reviews and good ratings Pulling was cancelled in 2007. The decision by the BBC
was much criticised and Kelly and Horgan
claimed to have cried and threw themselves at their feet over the decision. Most striking about Pulling is its lack of a moral centre. In an interview with The Guardian
Horgan said "I guess there isn't a moral centre because Dennis and I don't have one." Kelly then said "That's scary. Fuck. We need to get a moral centre. Shit. It's really true. But we do try to make sure we don't get nasty for the sake of it. We make sure there's a bit of heart. "
Debris (play)
Debris by Dennis Kelly was produced first at Theatre 503 in London in 2003 before it transferred to Battersea Arts Centre the next year.A one-act play where a brother and sister try to make sense of their dysfunctional childhood...
, After the End
After the End
After the End is a play by Dennis Kelly which premiered in 2005 produced by Paines Plough at the Traverse then Bush Theatre directed by Roxanna Silbert and starring Tom Brooke and Kerry Condon. A "claustrophobic piece that draws the audience"-Synopsis:...
, Osama the Hero
Osama the Hero
Osama the Hero by Dennis Kelly was first staged at the Hampstead Theatre in London in 2005. The provocative title ensured that there were police on the doors when it opened even though Kelly has since said "I was a little worried about the title. But, once I'd had the idea of calling it that, it...
and Love and Money
Love and Money (play)
Love and Money by Dennis Kelly played at the Royal Exchange, Manchester before it transferred to the Young Vic in 2006 directed by Matthew Dunster and opened the New Studio at the Young Vic....
. In television he is best known for his work on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
's sitcom Pulling.
Biography
Kelly grew up in BarnetBarnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
, North London, in an Irish family and was brought up a Catholic. His father was a bus conductor, and Kelly, one of five children, left school at 16.
Brought up on a council estate he said "There is a theatre version of a council estate, and it doesn't look like any council estate I've ever been on. Council estates are really diverse, especially in London. You get all sorts of people. Working-class people have the same vocabulary as anyone else. Some read the Guardian, some read the Sun, some read the Telegraph." About growing up on a council estate Kelly has said;
"A couple of years ago, when I was starting out as a playwright, I had a meeting with an artistic director about a play I had just written, Fifty-Three Million Miles. It was set partly on a council estate, partly in a Nasa interview room, and partly in a living pod on the surface of Mars. "You do good council estate," the artistic director told me. "Stick to council estate."
I was a little taken aback, but I took a deep breath and told him that although, yes, I'd grown up in a council house, I didn't feel that it was necessarily all there was to me, and that there were many things I was interested in talking about.."
While working in supermarkets, he discovered theatre when he joined a local youth group, the Barnet Drama Centre. " He then took a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts and received a first from Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
, London. He wrote his first play Debris
Debris
Debris is rubble, wreckage, ruins, litter and discarded garbage/refuse/trash, scattered remains of something destroyed, or, in geology, large rock fragments left by a melting glacier etc. The singular form of debris is debris...
when he was 30.
His plays include Debris
Debris (play)
Debris by Dennis Kelly was produced first at Theatre 503 in London in 2003 before it transferred to Battersea Arts Centre the next year.A one-act play where a brother and sister try to make sense of their dysfunctional childhood...
(Theatre 503
Theatre 503
Theatre503 is located at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above the Latchmere pub. It is a performing arts venue which specialises in new work.-History:...
, 2003/ Battersea Arts Centre
Battersea Arts Centre
The Battersea Arts Centre is a performance space near Clapham Junction in Battersea, in the London Borough of Wandsworth that specialises in music and theatre productions.-History:...
, 2004), Osama the Hero
Osama the Hero
Osama the Hero by Dennis Kelly was first staged at the Hampstead Theatre in London in 2005. The provocative title ensured that there were police on the doors when it opened even though Kelly has since said "I was a little worried about the title. But, once I'd had the idea of calling it that, it...
(Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
, 2005), After the End
After the End
After the End is a play by Dennis Kelly which premiered in 2005 produced by Paines Plough at the Traverse then Bush Theatre directed by Roxanna Silbert and starring Tom Brooke and Kerry Condon. A "claustrophobic piece that draws the audience"-Synopsis:...
produced by 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....
at the Traverse
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
/ Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre
The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
, 2005/ UK and international tour 2006), Love and Money
Love and Money (play)
Love and Money by Dennis Kelly played at the Royal Exchange, Manchester before it transferred to the Young Vic in 2006 directed by Matthew Dunster and opened the New Studio at the Young Vic....
(Royal Exchange, Manchester
Royal Exchange, Manchester
The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed Victorian building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street...
and Young Vic, 2006) and Taking Care of Baby (Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
, 2007). In 2007 he also wrote DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, written for the 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...
Connections Festival in 2007. His most recent play Orphans was staged in 2009 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
and transferred to Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
in Edinburgh in August 2009 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
His work has been produced in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, The Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Australia, Japan, the United States, Belgium, Romania and Canada. Other work includes translations of Péter Kárpáti’s The Fourth Gate (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...
Studio) and The Colony, a radio play which won Best European Radio Drama at the Prix Europa, 2004.
He also co-wrote the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
sitcom, Pulling with writer/actress Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horgan is an Irish actress, writer and comedienne.Horgan was born in London and moved to Dublin at age seven. She grew up in Bellewstown, Co. Meath, Ireland. She went to school in the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Drogheda. Later she went on to an English degree at Brunel University...
.
Kelly was one of the ten writers who took part in writing monologues based on a children's account for a one off event at the Old Vic Theatre directed by Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle
Daniel "Danny" Boyle is an English filmmaker and producer. He is best known for his work on films such as Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Trainspotting. For Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle won numerous awards in 2008, including the Academy Award for Best Director...
in London in support of Dramatic Need
Dramatic Need
Dramatic Need is a UK-registered charity that sends international arts professionals to host workshops in underprivileged and rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa...
in 2010. His three monologues were performed by Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, Jenny Jules
Jenny Jules
Jenny Jules is an award-winning English actress of stage and screen. She started her acting career as a member of the youth theatre program at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn, London...
and Charlie Cox
Charlie Cox
Charlie Cox is an English actor.-Life and career:Cox, the youngest of five children, was born in London, England and raised in East Sussex, the son of Trisha and Andrew, who is a publisher...
.
Common themes
Consistent traits in Kelly's work are strong women, violence, fantasy and flexible identities. For DNA Kelly said in an interview
This concept of a flexible identity was something I wanted to explore in a play. DNA was originally written for the National Theatre's Connections project, which pairs young actors with new writing. It was to be performed by more than 40 different youth groups across the country, and when I wrote it, I stipulated that all the characters' genders and names could be changed according to the groups' needs. John could become Jane, or Leah could become Lee. I reasoned that there isn't the huge gap between men and women that we like to think there is. We are different, yes, but our similarities far outweigh our differences. One quite angry youth leader took me to task over this, insisting that girls and boys were practically different species, and this could never work. But the interesting thing was that, with all the different cast configurations I went on to see, I forgot the original sex of the character I'd written within 10 minutes.
Theatre work
- Children's Monologues True Love, Sums and Christmas 2010 one off event at the Old Vic Theatre
- Matilda, A MusicalMatilda (musical)Matilda is a musical written by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It is based on the children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The musical was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company starting in December 2010 and running through January 2011...
2010, music by Tim MinchinTim MinchinTimothy David "Tim" Minchin is a British-Australian comedian, actor, and musician.Tim Minchin is best known for his musical comedy, which has featured in six CDs, three DVDs and a number of live comedy shows which he has performed internationally. He has also appeared on television in Australia,...
premiered in StratfordStratfordStratford is a place name found in many English-speaking countries. It derives from the Old English words stræt and ford... - The Gods Weep 2010 premiered at the Hampstead TheatreHampstead TheatreHampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
- The Prince of HomburgThe Prince of Homburg (play)The Prince of Homburg is a play by Heinrich von Kleist written in 1809-10, but not performed until 1821, after the author's death. A performance during his lifetime was not possible because Princess Marianne of Prussia , by birth a member of the Hesse-Homburg family, to whom Kleist had given sight...
2010 a translation, original by Heinrich von KleistHeinrich von KleistBernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist was a poet, dramatist, novelist and short story writer. The Kleist Prize, a prestigious prize for German literature, is named after him.- Life :...
premiered at the Donmar WarehouseDonmar WarehouseDonmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical... - Orphans 2009 premiered at the Traverse TheatreTraverse TheatreThe Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
transferred to the Soho TheatreSoho TheatreSoho 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.... - Our Teacher's a Troll 2009 premiered at Hull Theatre
- D.N.A part of National Theatre ConnectionsNational Theatre ConnectionsConnections is the National Theatre in London's annual youth theatre scheme....
2007 - Taking Care of Baby 2007 premiered at the Birmingham Rep
- Love and MoneyLove and Money (play)Love and Money by Dennis Kelly played at the Royal Exchange, Manchester before it transferred to the Young Vic in 2006 directed by Matthew Dunster and opened the New Studio at the Young Vic....
2006 premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre - Osama the HeroOsama the HeroOsama the Hero by Dennis Kelly was first staged at the Hampstead Theatre in London in 2005. The provocative title ensured that there were police on the doors when it opened even though Kelly has since said "I was a little worried about the title. But, once I'd had the idea of calling it that, it...
2005 premiered at the Hampstead TheatreHampstead TheatreHampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was... - After the EndAfter the EndAfter the End is a play by Dennis Kelly which premiered in 2005 produced by Paines Plough at the Traverse then Bush Theatre directed by Roxanna Silbert and starring Tom Brooke and Kerry Condon. A "claustrophobic piece that draws the audience"-Synopsis:...
2005 premiered at the BACBAC- Arts and entertainment :* Batman: Arkham City, a 2011 video game* Battersea Arts Centre, London, England, United Kingdom* Benedicta Arts Center, St... - Rose Bernd 2005 premiered at ArcolaArcolaArcola is an offshoot of the record label Warp Records. It was set up in late 2003, and takes its name from the Arcola Theatre, Arcola Street in Dalston, London where Warp held the launch party for the label....
- The Fourth Gate 2004 a translation, original play by Peter Karpati, premiered at the National TheatreRoyal National TheatreThe Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
- DebrisDebris (play)Debris by Dennis Kelly was produced first at Theatre 503 in London in 2003 before it transferred to Battersea Arts Centre the next year.A one-act play where a brother and sister try to make sense of their dysfunctional childhood...
2003 premiered at Theatre 503Theatre 503Theatre503 is located at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above the Latchmere pub. It is a performing arts venue which specialises in new work.-History:... - Brendan's Visit 1997 premiered at the Etcetera TheatreEtcetera TheatreThe Etcetera Theatre is a fringe venue for theatre and comedy. It was founded in 1986 and is situated above The Oxford Arms pub in Camden Town, in the London Borough of Camden....
Television work
- Pulling for BBC Three co written with Sharon HorganSharon HorganSharon Horgan is an Irish actress, writer and comedienne.Horgan was born in London and moved to Dublin at age seven. She grew up in Bellewstown, Co. Meath, Ireland. She went to school in the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Drogheda. Later she went on to an English degree at Brunel University...
Pulling
Kelly said that writing for TV and theatre is very unusual as Pulling is a comedy and not theatrical unlike his plays which are serious and often non naturalistic. Kelly said "telling people from the world of TV that I also inhabit the world of theatre is something I've begun to avoid."Despite very good reviews and good ratings Pulling was cancelled in 2007. The decision by 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...
was much criticised and Kelly and Horgan
Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horgan is an Irish actress, writer and comedienne.Horgan was born in London and moved to Dublin at age seven. She grew up in Bellewstown, Co. Meath, Ireland. She went to school in the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Drogheda. Later she went on to an English degree at Brunel University...
claimed to have cried and threw themselves at their feet over the decision. Most striking about Pulling is its lack of a moral centre. In an interview with The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Horgan said "I guess there isn't a moral centre because Dennis and I don't have one." Kelly then said "That's scary. Fuck. We need to get a moral centre. Shit. It's really true. But we do try to make sure we don't get nasty for the sake of it. We make sure there's a bit of heart. "
External links
- Keble O'Reilly Love and Money, 24–27 November
- entry on Doollee
- "I can’t imagine a more violent writer than Shakespeare." London Evening Standard, 9 March 2010