Biography of Alistair McDowall

Alistair McDowall has been writing since the age of 12, and directed his first play, Steve's Garage, in 2005, for a community theatre group in North Yorkshire. Since then, he has worked with Harrogate Youth Arts festival, directed a number of plays independently, before coming to Manchester and directing his first full length play, Dogs, at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama in February 2007. Following this, he wrote, produced, edited and directed a feature length independent film, Corpsing, and then had his play eighteen stupid reasons why i love you lots and lots taken on by The Royal Exchange Theatre to be developed for a rehearsed reading. This was one of a number of experiences with the Royal Exchange, which also included working as a script editor with the Young People's Theatre Group, as well as being part of a two-week Shakespeare workshop with the cast of their production of The Tempest. Next, Alistair worked with the Contact Theatre, asked by John McGrath to write and direct a new piece to represent the University Drama Society. The resulting show, Nettles, completely sold out every night, and received enthusiastic reviews. Daisies is Alistair's thirteenth written play, and his fifth play as director. It was performed for one night at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, to a sold out audience prior to being part of Manchester's 24:7 Theatre Festival