David Byrne (playwright)

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David Byrne (b. 1983 in Stevenage [1] ) is a British playwright and formerly the artistic director of the New Diorama Theatre in Camden, London, [2] and currently Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre. [3] Byrne has also written for radio and television. [4]

Byrne has won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain and the List Awards for Drama, [2] a Les Enfants Terribles Prize and the London Off West End award for Best Artistic Director. [5]

Byrne's adaptation of Down and Out in Paris and London sold out at the Edinburgh Festival in 2015 and received multiple four and five star reviews [6] before transferring to London. [7]

The New Diorama Theatre, under Byrne's artistic directorship, has won two Empty Space Peter Brook Awards. [8]

At New Diorama, Byrne developed relationships throughout the small and emergent theatre communities, using the theatre's resources to offer support for the development of new and challenging work, and new voices. [9]

In July 2023, it was announced that David Byrne would assume the role of Artistic Director of The English Stage Company/Royal Court in early 2024. [3]

In July 2024, Byrne received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. "New Diorama artistic director David Byrne: 'If we don't take risks, there's no point in us existing'". The Stage. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "NDT Staff Members". New Diorama Theatre. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Royal Court names David Byrne as AD". The Guardian. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  4. "JTM". www.jtmanagement.co.uk. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. "Southwark Playhouse's Titanic wins big at Off West End Theatre Awards | News | The Stage". The Stage. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  6. Jones, Ralph (9 August 2015). "Edinburgh fringe theatre 2015 review – a feast of shock, awe, robotic acting and bad French accents". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  7. "Down And Out In Paris And London". Broadway Baby. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  8. "New Diorama Theatre (@newdiorama) | Twitter". www.twitter.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  9. "New Diorama in London, A Theatre Taking Risks". The New York Times. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.