The Playwrights Database
LEMN SISSAY
Nationality: British
email: n/a Website: Click here
Literary Agent: Curtis Brown Group Ltd
Lemn Sissay is Artist in Residence at the South Bank Centre, London (2007-8). He has held numerous writer-in-residencies around the world. In January 2008, he was British Council Writer-in-Residence, at the State University of California, Los Angeles. Author of four poetry collections: Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist (1988); Rebel Without Applause (1992); Morning Breaks in the Elevator (1999) and the Emperor's Watchmaker (2000) and the editor of the Fire People: A Collection of Contemporary Black British Poets (1998). His work is extensively anthologised and he is a regular contributor to Poetry Review. His previous stage plays are Chaos By Design (1994) and Storm (2003). Something Dark toured nationally and internationally, was adapted for Radio 3 and won the RIMA award (2006). His latest play, the Lost Boys of Africa, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 (November 2007) and he has been commissioned by the West Yorkshire Playhouse to write the adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah's book, Refugee Boy (2008). His next collection of poems Listener (working title) will be published by Canongate (September 2008) and a new poem will be unveiled - inlaid in a sculpture - in the City of London in the same year.
Buy Plays with Doollee
Each page of doollee.com has links to play/book outlets, either directly to the Publisher, through Stageplays.com and Amazon to the second hand and 1st editions of AbeBooks. These links will automatically take you to the relevant area obviating the need for further search.AbeBooks.co.uk AbeBooks.com Stageplays.com amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.ca
whether you are a Playwright who wishes to make their entry definitive, an unlisted Playwright or a User with a tale to tell - we want to hear from you.
download WORD submission template
below is a list of Lemn Sissay's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
Inscribed OK Systems One Man Play Refugee Boy Something Dark Storm Why I Don't Hate White PeopleInscribed
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
part of "Table Plays". Drama brought to your table by members of our Hoard Festival company; short monologues from characters inspired by the Staffordshire Hoard.
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:
short monologue
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOK Systems
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:
play Ten Min
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOne Man Play
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
BAC , London >>>
2003
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:
Solo Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRefugee Boy
A story about arriving, belonging and finding home. Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay has adapted this powerful, startling new play from Benjamin Zephaniah's acclaimed novel, first published in 2001and now a worldwide phenomenon. As a violent civil war rages back home, teenaged Alem and his Father are in a B&B in Berkshire. It's his best holiday ever. the next morning his Father is gone. He's left a note explaining that his parents want to protect Alem from the war. This strange grey country is now his home. On his own, and in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council, he lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear something from his Father. then Alem meets car-obsessed Mustapha, the lovely 'out of your league' Ruth and dangerous Sweeney - 'no nickname. It doesn't get shortened'; three unexpected allies who spur him on as Alem fights to be seen as more than just the Refugee Boy.
Notes:
Benjamin Zephaniah's inspiring and moving story has been loved by readers young and old since it came out. Now for the first time it reaches the stage in a new adaptation by award winning poet, playwright and performer Lemn Sissay
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:
adaptation
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
Top of PageSomething Dark
Sissay was brought up as a lone black face in Northern children's homes, the piece charts his rocky life story
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Apples & Snakes in association with BAC
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:
Performance Piece Piece
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageStorm
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:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageWhy I Don't Hate White People
Synopsis:
a brief journey around racism, guilt, denial, political correctness and the meaning of colour.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Artsadmin
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: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Page