Hywel John

Hywel John (born 21 June 1980) ^[1] is a Welsh playwright and actor.

Background

Hywel John grew up in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and London. ^[1] He was educated at Highgate School, ^[2] Bristol University from 1999, and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art from 2002. ^[3]

Playwriting

His debut play, Pieces, premiered at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in March 2010, before transferring to Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theatres, New York City, later that year. It starred Welsh television and stage actor Steven Meo, alongside Louise Collins and Jennifer Kidd. It was directed by Kate Wasserberg. The Guardian compared it to the work of Harold Pinter, calling it "a demonic contemporary fairytale whose psychological surety will leave you in pieces." ^[4] The Stage described it as "a fascinating piece, always gripping often very funny with a Brothers Grimm-like atmosphere." ^{[5] [6]}

This was followed by Rose, which was commissioned by film and stage actor Art Malik. ^[1] It premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011, starring Malik and his daughter Keira. The play was described by the London Evening Standard as "a gem" with a "subtle and compelling script". ^[7] The Telegraph in its brief review described Rose as a "well-crafted, relevant, winningly performed new play." ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Other works

Sevens Bridge (a public reading at Manhattan Theatre Club starring Zawe Ashton in December 2010); Joe (Lyric Hammersmith and Latitude Festival 2012 ); ^[11] Boy (The Last Refuge, 2012 ). ^[12]

Acting

As an actor, roles include:

• The Bloody Sergeant and the Murderer in director Rupert Goold’s production of Macbeth in 2008, co-starring Sir Patrick Stewart. This production played the Chichester Festival Theatre, the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End, and New York City's Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) ^[13] and the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. ^[14] It was nominated for a Tony for Best Revival in 2008. ^[15] This production was turned into a film by BBC Films and PBS in 2010.
• English Boy in Guardians (play) by Peter Morris, which won the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival 2005M
• Yuri in ANGRY YOUNG MAN by Ben Woolf, which played the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End, and won the Best Play and Best Show Awards at the Adelaide Festival 2006. ^[16]
• Tom Wingfield in THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams, at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in 2010. ^{[17] [18]}
• Dave in the popular Channel 4 television sitcom The I.T. Crowd. ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Dr Keith Newby in BBC soap opera Doctors (2000 TV series) (BBC).^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "Welsh actor writes a Fringe family affair for the Maliks", Wales Online , 13 August 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
2. "'Pieces' by Hywel John". Cholmeleian Society. Retrieved 30 July 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. "New show from Hackney playwright Hywel John". Destination Hackney. 8 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
4. Alfred Hickling, "Pieces", The Guardian, 2 May 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
5. Victor Hallett, , The Stage, 28 April 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
6. NYtheatre.com Review
7. Evening Standard Roses Review , London Evening Standard
8. Dominic Cavendish, "Edinburgh Festival 2011: Edinburgh in brief", The Telegraph, 25 August 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
9. "Press Round Up". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
10. "Stage Review". Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
11. "Lyric Hammersmith Billing". Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
12. The Last Refuge Billing Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine , Destination Hackney, 2012
13. BAM Billing Archived 14 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine , www.playbill.com
14. NY Times Macbeth Review, The New York Times, 2008
15. 62nd Tony Award Nominations 62nd Tony Awards
16. Angry Young Man Billing
17. The Glass Menagerie Review , The Stage, 2010
18. The Glass Menagerie Review