John McGrath

Michael W. Patterson (University of De Montfort)

Ed. by Aleks Sierz, Independent Scholar - Europe
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of York), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

Born 1 Jun 1935
Died 2002
Activity 1958-2002

Places

Born in England
Active in England; Scotland

Activities

Primary

Playwright / Dramatist
Theatre Director

Resources

McGrath's Works

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John McGrath was a significant member of that group of prolific and successful British socialist playwrights of the 1970s and 1980s, which included John Arden, Howard Barker, Edward Bond, Howard Brenton, Caryl Churchill, David Edgar, Trevor Griffiths, David Hare, David Mercer and Arnold Wesker. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who moved from fringe and touring theatre into the mainstream, McGrath’s journey was in the opposite direction. After successfully writing for cinema, television and major theatres, his left-wing convictions led him largely to turn his back on commercial success. He and his wife – Elizabeth MacLennan – set up a touring company, 7:84, which played in village halls, clubs and pubs.

Of Irish descent, John Peter McGrath was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on 1 June

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2388 words

Citation: Patterson, Michael W.. "John McGrath". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 May 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=11712, accessed 25 November 2024.]