Stephens Plays: 1: Bluebird; Christmas; Herons; Port

Description

First collection from the 2004 Pearson Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens Plays: 1 brings together four of the early plays from the winner of the 2002 Pearson Best New Play Award. Since Bluebird in 1998, Stephens has gained recognition for humane plays that display a sharp observation and compassionate response to the lives of ordinary people in urban locations. Bluebird: Cabbie Jimmy overhears the weird, wonderful and violent tales of his passengers he confronts his past and his estranged wife. 'A rough gem of a play' - The Times Christmas: One night in an East end pub, four men confront their past and brace themselves for an uncertain future. 'Beautifully crafted' - What's On Herons: The disturbing story of one teenager on a violent estate in London, which saw Stephens nominated for an Olivier Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2001. Port: One woman's struggle to cope with and finally escape her life in Stockport. (Winner of Pearson Award for Best New Play.) 'A brilliant writer of immense imagination with an acute observation of people's foibles' - Independent

Simon Stephens' play Bring Me Sunshine was staged at 1997 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, transferring to the Riverside Studios in London the same year (revived in 2000 at the Manchester Royal Exchange). B luebird was produced by the Royal Court in London in 1998. Simon Stephens was writer-in-residence at the Royal Exchange Theatre in 1999 and in 2000 he was the Arts Council Resident Dramatist at the Ro yal Court. His next play, Herons (Royal Court, 2001), was nominated for the Olivier Award for Most Promising Playwright. His radio play Five Letters to Elizabeth was broadcast on Radio 4 in 2001, and Digging on Radio 4 in 2003. His next stage play, Port (Royal Exchange, Manchester, 2002), was awarde d the Pearson Award for Best New Play in 2001/2. One Minute was produced by the Actor's Touring Company in June 2003. Christmas premiered at the Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, before transferring to the Bush Theatre, London, in January 2004. Country Music was produced by the Royal Court in 2004.

'Simon Stephens is wonderful, his plays have such a big heart.' * Laura Wade, playwright *