Brian Clark (Estate)

Writer

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Film, TV & Theatre

Assistant: Valli Dakshinamurthi

Film, TV & Theatre

Theatre:

Early stage plays include POST MORTEM and CAMPION'S INTERVIEW (both presented at the Soho Poly Theatre) and the collaborative works LAY BY and ENGLAND’S IRELAND.

Brian’s first major stage play was the enormously successful WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY? Originally a play for television, the stage version opened at the Mermaid Theatre, London on 6th June 1978 and transferred to the Savoy Theatre on 13th June of the same year. It opened on Broadway on 17th April 1979, re-opening the following Spring with Mary Tyler Moore playing the main role in the "female version". The play enjoys continuing success both in the UK and abroad and has played in virtually every foreign language. It received the following awards:

 

Best Play of 1978: Society of West End Theatre Award

Most Promising Playwright 1978: Evening Standard Drama Award

Best Play 1978: Plays and Players Award

NEW YORK: Best Actor Award to Tom Conti

Special Tony Award presented to Mary Tyler Moore.

 

A major West End revival of the female version of WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY? starring Kim Cattrall opened at the Comedy Theatre in January 2005.

Brian's second major stage play, CAN YOU HEAR ME AT THE BACK? opened at the Piccadilly Theatre, London on 23rd May 1979 with Peter Barkworth and Hannah Gordon.

KIPLING, his one-man show starring Alec McCowan, opened at the Mermaid Theatre in 1984 and was later televised for Channel Four.

THE PETITION opened on Broadway in 1986 with Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, directed by Sir Peter Hall.  It subsequently opened at the National Theatre with John Mills and Rosemary Harris, again directed by Sir Peter Hall, transferring to the West End in 1987.  The play has been performed in Scandinavia, Australia, Germany, Spain and Brazil.

HOPPING TO BYZANTIUM, which Brian co-wrote with Kathy Levin received its World Premiere in Osnabruck, West Germany in October 1990.

His most recent stage play IN PURSUIT OF EVE, which he also performed, opened at The King’s Head Theatre, Islington in February 2001.

 

Television:

Brian Clark is one of England's leading television playwrights. His many credits include ACHILLES HEEL, OPERATION MAGIC CARPET, PAROLE, EASY GO, THE SATURDAY PARTY, THE COUNTRY PARTY, THERE'S NO PLACE, HAPPY RETURNS and LATE STARTER (1985, starring Peter Barkworth).  He also wrote the very popular and successful ten-part BBC series TELFORD'S CHANGE (1979, subsequently repeated) which won the BAFTA Shell International TV Award in 1979.

 

Film:

The film adaptation of WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?, made by MGM and starring Richard Dreyfuss, was distributed in 1982.

Brian also contributed to the screenplay NOSTRADAMUS directed by Roger Christian.