Caryl Churchill
The Playwright
Caryl Churchill, 80 Photo: Marc Brenner
“The question "What is a Caryl Churchill play?" is hard to answer; they are protean. Churchill is a playwright with a body of work that has continually responded to the
“The question "What is a Caryl Churchill play?" is hard to answer; they are protean. Churchill is a playwright with a body of work that has continually responded to the
form and pressure of the times
form and pressure of the times
as if she has turned the idea of what a play should be over and over, revisioning it beyond the accepted imaginative boundaries, to produce plays that are
as if she has turned the idea of what a play should be over and over, revisioning it beyond the accepted imaginative boundaries, to produce plays that are
always revolutionary. ”
always revolutionary. ”
~ April de Angelis, "Caryl Churchill: Changing the Language of Theatre"
The Guardian, 7 Sept. 2012. Read more...
Biography
Biography
Early years
Early years
Caryl Churchill was born on September 3, 1938 in London, England and her family moved to Montreal, Canada when she was 10. She returned to England shortly thereafter to attend the University of Oxford to study English Literature, graduating in 1960.
Caryl Churchill was born on September 3, 1938 in London, England and her family moved to Montreal, Canada when she was 10. She returned to England shortly thereafter to attend the University of Oxford to study English Literature, graduating in 1960.
Writing & Raising
Writing & Raising
In the 1960s & 70s, Churchill was writing radio plays for the BBC, though some of her earliest plays (Downstairs and You've No Need to be Frightened — 1958 & 1960 respectively) were written and produced while she pursued her Bachelor's degree in English Literature at Oxford. In 1961, she married her husband, David Harter, and raised her three sons in Hackney, London.
In the 1960s & 70s, Churchill was writing radio plays for the BBC, though some of her earliest plays (Downstairs and You've No Need to be Frightened — 1958 & 1960 respectively) were written and produced while she pursued her Bachelor's degree in English Literature at Oxford. In 1961, she married her husband, David Harter, and raised her three sons in Hackney, London.
her career & other works
her career & other works
the first female resident dramatist
the first female resident dramatist
at London’s Royal Court Theatre (1974-75) and subsequently became associated with companies like the Monstrous Regiment Feminist Theatre & the Joint Stock Company (Max Stafford-Clark).
at London’s Royal Court Theatre (1974-75) and subsequently became associated with companies like the Monstrous Regiment Feminist Theatre & the Joint Stock Company (Max Stafford-Clark).