Gary Mitchell


Gary Mitchell is a Northern Irish playwright. By the 2000s, he had become "one of the most talked about voices in European theatre... whose political thrillers have arguably made him Northern Ireland's greatest playwright".
From a working-class, loyalist background, Mitchell's first foray into writing was for Radio 4. His first play was produced by Tinderbox but Mitchell's first major theatre success was the production of his In A Little World of Our Own at the Peacock, a gripping and unflinching portrayal of loyalist culture. It won The Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play in 1997, and it later went to Belfast as part of an Abbey Theatre tour. The following year the Peacock Theatre produced his As The Beast Sleeps.
He was writer-in-residence at the Royal National Theatre, London in 1999.
His works have also premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre. Force of Change won the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright.
He won the prestigious Stewart Parker Award for Independent Voice; other accolades include the George Devine Award.
In November 2005, he was forced out of his home in the Belfast suburb of Rathcoole after it was attacked by loyalist paramilitaries. He and his family had to live in hiding somewhere in Northern Ireland which forced Mitchell to put his career on hold for five years.
He has gone on to win the Aisling Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture.

Works

;PlaysPride of the Shore Mac Theatre, BelfastBurnt Out Lyric Theatre, BelfastSilly Moos Grand Opera House, BelfastSafe as Seasons Festival, Belfast1932:The People of Gallagher Street with Martin Lynch, The Mac, BelfastSmiley Lyric Theatre, BelfastDemented Lyric Theatre, BelfastForget Turkey with Dan Gordon and Colin Murphy, Lyric Theatre, BelfastRe-energize Playhouse, Derry Forget Turkey with Dan Gordon and Colin Murphy, Lyric Theatre, BelfastLove Matters Aisling Ghear, BelfastSuicide Blonde Old Red Lion, LondonRemnants of Fear Dubbeljoint, BelfastLoyal Women Royal Court Downstairs, LondonThe Force of Change Royal Court Upstairs/Downstairs, LondonMarching On Lyric, BelfastHolding Cell Tinderbox, BelfastEnergy Playhouse, DerryTrust Royal Court Upstairs, LondonTearing the Loom Lyric, BelfastAs the Beast Sleeps Peacock, DublinIn a Little World of Our Own Peacock, DublinSinking Replay, BelfastThat Driving Ambition Replay, BelfastAlternative Future Point Fields, BelfastIndependent Voice Tinderbox, Belfast
;Radio playsTubes RTE Radio 1Fighting Cowardice RTÉ Radio 1Ulster Volunteers RTÉ Radio 1Loves Worst Day BBC Radio 4Babies RTÉ Radio 1Freedom of Poverty RTÉ Radio 1Ian Really Likes Mary RTÉ Radio 1Echoes of War BBC Radio 3Forgotten People Part Two RTÉ Radio 1Forgotten People Part One RTÉ Radio 1Just 'Cause RTÉ Radio 1Loyal Women BBC Radio 4The Force of Change BBC Radio 4As the Beast Sleeps BBC Radio 4At the Base of the Pyramid BBC Radio 4Drumcree BBC Radio 4Dividing Force Episode Three: Useless Tools BBC Radio 4Dividing Force Episode Two: Raising the Standard BBC Radio 4Dividing Force Episode One: Above the Law BBC Radio 4Stranded BBC Radio 3Mandarin Lime with Jimmy Murphy BBC Radio 3Poison Hearts BBC Radio 4Independent Voice BBC Radio 4A Tearful of Dreams BBC Radio 4The World, the Flesh and the Devil BBC Radio 4
;TelevisionEight Days That Made Rome Channel 5
;FilmsSuffering Writer/directorAs the Beast Sleeps BBC 2An Officer From France RTÉ 1Made in Heaven BBC Education
;Published PlaysBurnt Out Loyal Women As the Beast Sleeps The Force of Change Trust Tearing the Loom
  • ''In a Little World of Our Own''

Awards

;Theatre awards
  • Aisling Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture Remnants of Fear
  • Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright The Force of Change
  • Joint winner George Divine Award The Force of Change
  • Pearson Best New Play Award Trust
  • Belfast Arts Drama Award Sinking
  • Belfast Arts Drama Award In a Little World of Our Own
  • Irish Times Best New Play Award In a Little World of Our Own
;Film awards