Helen Smith (writer)
Encyclopedia
Helen Smith is an English novelist and dramatist. She's a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain
, English PEN and the Society of Authors
, and a founder member of the writer-led Agent 160 theatre company. She lives in Brixton
, London.
. When her daughter was small, they travelled extensively in Australia, South East Asia, Hong Kong and South America before returning to the UK where her first novel, Alison Wonderland, was published in 1999 by Gollancz
.
She was a winning writer in the IRDP
London Playwrights Festival and her novels have been optioned for development by the BBC
. She continues to work as a novelist and playwright and was the recipient of an Arts Council
Award. She currently volunteers as a writing mentor
with the Write to Life group run by the Medical Foundation for Care of Victims of Torture
.
, London
2009 Purple, Silver, Olive, OrangeArcola Theatre
, London
2007 The Psychic Detective National Theatre
Watch This Space and touring
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds .-Activities:...
, English PEN and the Society of Authors
Society of Authors
The Society of Authors is a trade union for professional writers that was founded in 1884 to protect the rights of writers and fight to retain those rights .It has counted amongst its members and presidents numerous notable writers and poets including Tennyson The Society of Authors (UK) is a...
, and a founder member of the writer-led Agent 160 theatre company. She lives in Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London.
Biography
Helen Smith was born in London in November 1968 and she has one daughter, Lauren, with the writer Damon RochefortDamon Rochefort
Damon Rochefort is a Welsh musician, songwriter and writer.He was born to Barry and Kaye Rochefort.He has had success in music in the 1990s with his band, Nomad, with the international hits "I Wanna Give you Devotion" and "Just a Groove"; as well as writing and producing hits for Kim Wilde, Bad...
. When her daughter was small, they travelled extensively in Australia, South East Asia, Hong Kong and South America before returning to the UK where her first novel, Alison Wonderland, was published in 1999 by Gollancz
Gollancz
Gollancz often refers to the British publishing house Victor Gollancz Ltd.Gollancz, a family name originating from the Polish town Gołańcz , is mainly known as the name of a prominent British Jewish family, including:* Sir Hermann Gollancz , rabbi* Sir Israel Gollancz , scholar of...
.
She was a winning writer in the IRDP
Independent Radio Drama Productions
Independent Radio Drama Productions started in 1987 as an independent producer of radio drama. IRDP was a non profit company run by directors Tim Crook, Richard Shannon, and Marja Giejgo. IRDP's ambition was to promote the value of radio drama and to expand opportunities for writers new to radio...
London Playwrights Festival and her novels have been optioned for development 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...
. She continues to work as a novelist and playwright and was the recipient of an Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
Award. She currently volunteers as a writing mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
with the Write to Life group run by the Medical Foundation for Care of Victims of Torture
Medical Foundation for Care of Victims of Torture
Freedom from Torture is the working name of The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture., . The organisation changed its name in 2011. Freedom from Torture is a British registered charity which solely treats torture survivors...
.
Theatre
2010 The Memory ManArcola TheatreArcola Theatre
Arcola Theatre is a studio theatre in Dalston, in the London Borough of Hackney. The theatre's ambition is to create and present high-quality theatre with a social and political relevance to its multicultural local community as well as a wider audience....
, London
2009 Purple, Silver, Olive, OrangeArcola Theatre
Arcola Theatre
Arcola Theatre is a studio theatre in Dalston, in the London Borough of Hackney. The theatre's ambition is to create and present high-quality theatre with a social and political relevance to its multicultural local community as well as a wider audience....
, London
2007 The Psychic Detective 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...
Watch This Space and touring