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Jim Cartwright

JIM CARTWRIGHT

  (1958 - )
Nationality:    British
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    AJ Associates  

Jim Cartwright is a multi award-winning playwright whose work is consistently performed around the world and has been translated into over 35 languages. He has written successfully for film, television and radio and his stage work has been performed at the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre, the West end of London and on Broadway amongst others. His plays for the Theatre include; Road, Bed, Two, the Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Prize Night, Hard Fruit. Television and film work includes; Road, Vroom, Wedded, June, Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise, Strumpet, Johnny Shakespeare, King of the Teds. His plays are on both school and university curriculums, and have been constantly in print since 1986.

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below is a list of Jim Cartwright's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Ancient Secret of Youth and the Five Tibetans, The         Baths         Bed         Christmas Fair, A         Cowboy Guns         Eight Miles High         Hard Fruit         I Licked A Slag's Deodorant         Kiss the Sky         Mobile Phone Show         On         Prize Night         Raz         Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, The         Road         Stone Free         Two         Two 2         Wedded
Ancient Secret of Youth and the Five Tibetans, The

Synopsis:
Age must come to us all. But what if there really was a path back to youth? Would you take it? One night, three old friends who have known each other for forty years discover an ancient book that offers up the secret of youth. Within its dusty pages the book reveals a series of rituals, that if followed sincerely - and with absolute diligence - promise nothing less than to turn back the clock, and give them youth once again. They take the challenge.

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Baths

Synopsis:
an old swimming baths. Plunge into the lives and stories of the many characters that dip in and out of its chlorinated waters, avoiding the wrath of the pernickety, hydrophobic attendant.

Notes:
broadcast 1987

1st Produced:
Bolton, Lancashire     1990

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  cast of 9

Further Reference:
-

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Bed

Bed
Seven elderly people share a vast bed, to dream, remember and reflect on a long past. the play, with a running time of 90 minutes, was acclaimed at the Royal National theatre. 'Cartwright writes better about old people than anyone I know, except perhaps Beckett. This is an odd, harrowing and hilarious piece, entirely without sentimentality, sturdy but moving.' Sunday Times. 'sophisticated of structure and mature in content . . . brims with the confidence of a craftsman who can work as happily with surrealism as naturalism . . .' City Limits

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
National Theatre, London

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Christmas Fair, A

Synopsis:
It is Christmas. In the old village hall, villagers are setting up their stalls for the annual fair. Amidst the bric-a-brac, tombola and crafts, hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking stories emerge, fueled by the powerful Christmas punch at the refreshments table. Young love seems imminent, the vicar has his mind elsewhere, Veronica needs all hands on deck to make this fair a success and the caretaker just wants to go home. Village life as seen through the eyes of one of the country's leading playwrights. Will romance blossom? Will secrets be revealed? And will the audience be able to buy their own last minute stocking fillers and sample the Christmas punch? Will the Christmas Fair go with a bang? It just might. . .

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
The Milton Rooms, Market Place, Malton, North Yorkshire Yo17 7Lx     20 Dec 2012

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Christmas Play

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Cowboy Guns

Synopsis:
Out of the blue, a lonely, elderly woman receives a tape through the post from the GI lover that she had a fling with after the war. Listening to the tape unlocks frustrated dreams and unleashes a series of memories she was not prepared for

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Eight Miles High

Synopsis:
It is said that If you can remember the 60's you weren't there'. So here's a chance to re-live it and if you weren't there experience' it at this Lancashire free festival set in the summer of love. Be kissed by a Hells angel, attend a hippy wedding, travel from cobbled streets to Kathmandu, sit-in, love-in and all to the live, swirling psychedelic sounds and anthems of the decade, Hendrix, Joplin, Dylan and the rest. Turn on, tune in, drop out!

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Octagon, Bolton, Lancashire     1991

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Play Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  21 characters played by 10 musician/actors

Further Reference:
-

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Hard Fruit

Hard Fruit
a seasoned martial artist who leads a monastic existence, barely leaving the backyard of his small terraced house. afraid of being past it' and his advancing years bringing only weakness and vulnerability, becomes obsessed with manufacturing a karate machine that will take care of his training and protection. a sparky and motley selection of characters such as Sump, Friar Jiggle, Yak, Silver and his aptly named neighbour Mrs. Cooee, are continually frustrating him in his quest as they arrive unannounced to invade the privacy of his backyard dojo. But the day comes to a Dramatic and unexpected conclusion that none of them would have expected from the seemingly, indestructible martial Arts master

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:

Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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I Licked A Slag's Deodorant

I Licked A Slag's Deodorant
a crack addicted street walker and a vulnerable, broken man try to salvage an awkward intimacy away from the harsh and ugly streets

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Kiss the Sky

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Mobile Phone Show

Synopsis:
A communication cacophony, a fully charged up chorus line of chaos in a rhapsody of rap, text, tweet and gabble.

Notes:
Jigsaw Arts

1st Produced:

Organisations:
National Theatre Connections

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
TYA

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  5 to 50

Further Reference:
-

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On

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Methuen Drama 1992   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Prize Night

Synopsis:
a famous London novelist is invited back up North as guest of honour to his old school's prize night. Drunk and on the verge of a breakdown he takes off with his first love in tow and pursued by his terrified and bewildered Pa on a wild and tempestuous night on the town. He pub crawls, goes to a 70's retro roller-skating night, breaks into a football ground, sings karaoke and ends up on the playground where he played as a child. But old haunts and old friends are not as he remembered. Instead of reconnecting to his northern roots as he had hoped for, he is forced into a cathartic realisation that he didn't want to face.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  24 characters played by cast of 9

Further Reference:
-

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Raz

Synopsis:
Friday night, the tanning shop, a good nine-minute blaster!' Shane is another 30-year-old weekend millionaire, still living at home. Tonight, hes hitting the town. On Monday, hell start again.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Assembly George Square Studios " George Square, EH8 9LH (Three) B0131 623 3030 V17 GF5 12, Edinburgh Festival Fringe     06 Aug 2015

Organisations:
Assembly Festival and Riverside Studios

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
New writing, Drama monologue

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, The

Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, The
the story of a young, reclusive girl lost in the shadow of her gaudy, whirlwind of a mother. the girl's only comfort is to seek solace in the record collection bequeathed to her by her father, of famous divas and songstresses such as Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe. the mother takes up with small time showbiz agent Ray Say, who accidentally uncovers the girl's unrealised talent of impersonation as the voices of the greats become hers and from there begins a roller coaster of a journey from her lonely bedroom to the bright lights of club land, bringing uproarious humour, heart rending sadness and ultimately freedom along the way

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Road

Road
a passionate, poetic and positive portrayal of working class life.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  17            Female:  13            Other:  usually played by a cast of 7

Further Reference:
National Library of Scotland ref: 7:84 Theatre Company Scotland - acc.12911/17

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Stone Free

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Bristol Old Vic

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Two

Two
Series of working class cameos around pub owner, his wife and guests.

Notes:
aka To

1st Produced:
Octagon, Bolton, Lancashire     1989

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Methuen, London (as "To"), 1991   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  doubling of 14 characters

Further Reference:
-

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Two 2

Synopsis:
The world premiere production of Two 2; Jim Cartwright's brand new play that revisits the lives, loves and laughs of regulars in a Northern boozer. Time may have passed but the pub is still standing - just. Punters are now few and far between, and despite all attempts at quiz nights, karaoke and pub grub it could soon be last orders for the struggling landlord and lady. At odds with one another, but holding it together one shift at a time, their lives have become as bitter as the ale they serve. But when a once in a life time opportunity presents itself in the form of a one way ticket out of there, will either of them have the courage to turn their backs on the pub, and most importantly, each other?

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Wedded

Synopsis:
Without warning on a seemingly ordinary night in suburbia, a young couple's marriage suddenly falls apart. He journeys on a blind and frantic search for adventure whilst she desperately struggles to piece together the shattered remains of what was their life in an attempt to make sense of it all.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  cast of 3 characters played by 2

Further Reference:
-

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