Robin French

Robin French
Born Robin Edward Mackender French
1978
Birmingham, England, UK
Occupation Playwright, writer

Robin French (born 1978, Birmingham) is an English playwright, film and television writer and songwriter.

Background

French was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham and studied Modern and Medieval Languages at Selwyn College, Cambridge University where he graduated with first-class honours in 2001.[1]

While at Cambridge he was active in the Cambridge Footlights[2] and won two play-writing competitions.[3]

Career

Theatre

French is currently writer in residence at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. His version of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, "Heather Gardner", will be produced by Birmingham Repertory Theatre in March 2013.[4] French's first play, Bear Hug,[5][6][7][8] won the Royal Court Theatre Young Writers Programme and was subsequently produced at the theatre. It has since had productions in Italy, Germany, Ireland[9] and Poland. His second play, Gilbert is Dead[10] performed at Hoxton Hall in Shoreditch, London, in November 2009. His play for young people The Red Helicopter was performed at the Almeida theatre, London, in August 2010. The Guardian listed French as one of the UK's "young stars in the ascendant" in 2005.[3]

Television

French also writes for television. His latest sitcom Cuckoo (TV series), co-written with Kieron Quirke, has started to air on BBC Three this Autumn, starring Andy Samberg, Greg Davies, Helen Baxendale, Tamla Kari and Tyger Drew-Honey.[11] He has twice been awarded the title of Hotshot (representing UK writing) by Broadcast Magazine (2006 and 2008[12]).

French was writer and script editor for two series of BBC’s Man Stroke Woman, co-creator of US sitcom Roommates (ABC Family), and co-creator and co-writer of ITV2's mystery dramedy Trinity.

Music

French spent several years in the music industry as bassist of UK band Mr Hudson and the Library.[13] French played under the alias Maps Huxley, and co-wrote the song "One Specific Thing" from the album A Tale of Two Cities.[14] He left the band to pursue writing in September 2007. He recently co-wrote the opening song of Pixie Lott's latest album Young Foolish Happy with Mr Hudson, Cathy Dennis and Pixie Lott.

References

  1. ↑ "Congregations of the Regent House on 28, 29, and 30 June 2001". Cambridge University Reporter.
  2. ↑ http://footlights.org/1990.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Phillips, Sarah (25 September 2005). "Other young stars in the ascendant". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "New Artistic Director Roxana Silbert Announces Birmingham Rep’s Exciting 100th Birthday Season". Birmingham Repertory Theatre (Birmingham). September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Paul (18 October 2004). "The Weather/Bear Hug, Royal Court, London". The Independent (London). Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Spencer, Charles (13 October 2004). "Terror in a teenage climate". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  7. ↑ Billington, Michael (11 October 2004). "The Weather/Bear Hug". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  8. ↑ Performing Arts Journal, Beyond Timidity? The State of British New Writing, volume 81, pp55-61
  9. ↑ http://www.bewleyscafetheatre.com/previous.php
  10. ↑ "Gilbert was Dead". shiningman.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  11. ↑ "Greg Davies and Andy Samberg to star in BBC comedy Cuckoo". Guardian. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  12. ↑ "Robin French, 29, writer". Broadcast. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  13. ↑ "Mr Hudson & The Library Biography". NME. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  14. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1024271