Mike Bartlett

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Michael Fredrick Bartlett, (born October 7, 1980) is an English playwright. He is also co-director of Shapeshifter Theatre Company.

To date, Bartlett has written mostly for British theatre, but has also been commissioned to write a number of radio plays.

In May 2007, while holding the prestigious position of "writer in residence" at the Royal Court Theatre, his play My Child was premiered[1]. This production was especially notable for the highly unusual and ambitious conversion of the main house at the Royal Court into a tube carriage. His most recent play, Artefacts, is currently being performed at The Bush Theatre[2] in London until 22 March 2008 before a National Tour, produced by a new-writing theatre company, Nabokov[3].

Other work has included a radio play Not Talking which was broadcast in March 2006 by the BBC to critical acclaim. The play looked at the issues surrounding conscientious objection in the UK during World War II and also at the problems of bullying within the armed forces. The play featured an all-star cast including Richard Briers and June Whitfield.

In July 2005 Bartlett took part in the Old Vic's "New Voices" 24 Hour Plays culminating in the performance of his play "Comfort" which had to be written and performed in 24 Hours.

Bartlett won the 2006 Tinniswood Award for Not Talking and the 2006 Imison Award for the drama by a writer new to radio on the 18th of October 2007.[4] In addition to writing, he has had a large number of directing roles within theatre.

Contents

[edit] Selected Credits

[edit] Writing

  • Artefacts - commissioned and produced by Nabokov and first performed at The Bush Theatre, London - February / March 2008.
  • Contractions - 2007 (Royal Court) Adapted for BBC Radio 4 under the title "Love Contract"
  • The Family Man - 2007 5 part Radio Drama produced for Women's Hour on BBC Radio 4
  • My Child - a critically acclaimed play about fatherhood and what it means to be a man. May 2007 (Royal Court Theatre)
  • Stuff I Buried in a Small Town - a one hour play commissioned by The Older Heat and Light Company - March 2006 (Hampstead Theatre)
  • Not Talking - commissioned by BBC Radio 3 The Wire
  • Comfort - 24 hour play - July 2005 (Old Vic New Voices)
  • Silent Charities - a short play commissioned for the Earl's Court Festival - July 2005 (Finborough Theatre)
  • Why People Really Burn - 2003 (The Underbelly – Edinburgh Fringe)
  • Swimming for Beginners - 2002 (The Workshop Theatre, Leeds)
  • The Love At Last - 2002 (Gilded Balloon – Edinburgh Fringe)

[edit] Directing

  • Lark Rise to Candleford - July 2005–October 2005 (Shapeshifter/Finborough Theatre)
  • Soldiers - July–August 2004 (Shapeshifter)

[edit] Background

Bartlett is from Oxford, and studied English and theatre studies in Leeds. He is an alumnus of Abingdon School.

[edit] References

  1. ^ My Child by Mike Bartlett, at the Royal Court Theatre; http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whatson01.asp?play=476 (accessed 26 February 2008)
  2. ^ Artefacts by Mike Bartlett, at the Bush Theatre; http://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/productions/artefacts.html (accessed 26 February 2008)
  3. ^ nabokov present Artefacts by Mike Bartlett; http://www.nabokov-online.com/artefacts.html (accessed 26 February 2008)
  4. ^ Writers Guild[http://www.writersguild.org.uk/public/003_WritersGuil/165_WGGBNewsTin.html

[edit] Links