Writers
Information on the playwrights. (Please scroll to the bottom for the writer's gallery)
SUE TOWNSEND. Groping for Words, Bazaar & Rummage
Sue Townsend was Britain's bestselling author of the 1980's with The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (1982) and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (1984). Her other hugely successful novels are; Rebuilding Coventry (1988), True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole, Margaret Hilda Roberts and Susan Lilian Townsend (1989), Mr Bevan's Dream (1989), Adrian Mole: From Minor to Major (1991), The Queen & I (1992), Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years (1993), Ghost Children (1997), Adrian Mole: The Cappucino Years (1999), The Public Confessions of a Middle-aged Woman (2001), Number Ten (2002), Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004), Queen Camilla (2006), The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole 1999-2001 (2008). Plays include; Womberang, The Ghost of Daniel Lambert, Dayroom, Captain Christmas and the Evil Adults, Bazaar and Rummage, Groping for Words, The Great Celestial Cow, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4, Ten Tiny Fingers Nine Tiny Toes, Disneyland It Aint, The Queen & I. Screenplays include; The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, The Refuge, Adios. The most recent Adrian Mole installment, 'Adrain Mole - The Prostrate Years' was released in November 2009. Sue Townsend remains one of Britain's bestselling authors and well known playwrights. She lives in Leicester. 'Groping for Words' was first presented at the Croydon Warehouse Theatre on 10th March 1983, directed by Sue Pomeroy. 'Bazaar & Rummage' was first presented in the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs on 10th May 1982, directed by Carole Hayman. www.adrianmole.com
JOYCE GRENFELL (1910-1979). George - Don't Do That
Joyce is best remembered for her monologues, songs and comic writings. Her performance debut came at a dinner party in 1939 when she entertained guests with an impersonation of a speaker she had seen at a local Women's Institute. As a result one of the dinner guests, a radio producer, persuaded Joyce to take part in a West End revue. She went on to appear in revues on stage and radio and made appearances on TV for 30 years. She was awarded the O.B.E in 1946 following her wartime service of entertaining the troops throughout the war. In 1943 she started a series of radio shows called 'How' of which was born her first nursery school sketch entitled 'How To Talk To Children'. Joyce was also an accomplished actress starring in many films including the St Trinians and The Happiest Days of Your Life. In 1995 letters to and from her best friend, Virginia Graham, were discovered in a cellar spanning 62 years of friendship which are available in print, ('Joyce & Ginnie'). Joyce married Reggie in 1929 and remained devoted until her death in 1979. Many books, CD's & DVD's are available of Joyce's work and are as popular as ever.
STEPHEN DINSDALE. Anorak of Fire, the life and times of Gus Gascoigne, trainspotter
Anorak of Fire was first presented at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 1993, then in London at the Arts Theatre from 9th September 1993 starring James Holmes as Gus Gascoigne, directed by Sarah Frankcom.
JOHN GOODRUM. Sorry, I Love You...
John studied Music & Drama at Bristol University and is a founder of RUMPUS THEATRE COMPANY where his directing credits include; 'Murdere', 'Duet for One', 'Quartet' and 'Jumpers'. RUMPUS have produced some of John's own plays; 'Schbert Fountain', 'Blood Relations', 'Sorry, I Love You', 'The Comedy of Terrors', 'One Fling After Another', 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood', 'The Ripper Files', 'Mr G & Mrs S', plus his adaptions of 'The Signalman', 'The Haunted House', 'The Pit and the Pendulum', 'The Black Veil', 'The Judges House' and 'The Nightmare Room', as well as his co-productions of musical revues (with Karen Henson) 'Carry on Coward', 'Carry on in the Blackout' and 'What the Dickens?'. His adaptations of 'The Signalman' and 'The Pit and the Pendulum' were both subsequently produced by Bill Kenwright at the Theatre Royal, Windsor. 'The Judges House' was produced in Germany in 2007. As an actor John has performed in theatres nationwide. Roles include; Bottom in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Fancourt Babberley in 'Charley's Aunt', John Smith in 'Run For Your Wife', Heisenberg in 'Copenhagen' and Neville in 'Neville's Island'. John also appeared in his musical revues 'Carry on in the Blackout' (tour) and 'What the Dickens?' (Auden Theatre, Holt, Norfolk). On Radio 4 John played James Miller in 'The Archers'. In 2008 John wrote, directed and starred as Sarah the Cook in 'Dick Whittington' at the Granville Theatre, Ramsgate. Musically he has composed incidental music for a variety of plays including; 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Macbeth' and Alan Ayckbourn's 'Intimate Exchanges'. He has researched and arranged the music for productions of 'Moll Flanders', 'A Christmas Carol', 'Around the World in Eighty Days', 'Lark Rise' and 'Candleford'. John has been the musical director for many of these as well as 'Adrian Mole', 'These Foolish Things' and Willy Russell's 'Our Day Out'. 'Sorry, I Love You' was first produced by Rumpus at the Quay Theatre, Sudbury, on 27th October 2001 as part of a tour, directed by John. On 22nd March 2010 John attended Planet Rabbit's production of this play at the Riley-Smith Hall in Tadcaster. Click website address to be directed to Rumpus Theatre Company. www.rumpustheatrecompany.co.uk
