About / Bio
After spending my twenties working in the music industry in London and New York, I wrote my first novel Skywalking, published in 2003. I began writing for the stage in 2004. I was Pearson Playwright at the National Theatre in 2010/11 and part of the inaugural Soho Six playwrights on attachment at the Soho Theatre in 2012, Recent plays include The Prince and the Pauper and The Summer Book for the Unicorn Theatre; Don’t Feed the Animals for National Theatre Connections; The Grand Irrationality for Lost Theatre Studios; The Gift for New Vic Theatre Hoard Festival and First Person Narrative for Tonic Theatre. I’m currently under commission to the National Theatre where I also teach playwriting and created their online playwriting course for young people, New Views. My first feature film Captain Webb was produced in 2015. I have recently adapted Barbara Pym’s novel Excellent Women for BBC Films/Raindog Films and am developing Hermione Eyre’s novel Viper Wine as a TV series for Objective Productions. My feature screenplay Last Christmas is currently in development with the BFI’s First Feature programme with director Amanda Boyle and producer Judy Counihan. I’ve recently signed up to adapt Lissa Evans’ novel Crooked Heart for BBC Films, co-produced by Frida Torresblanco and Rachel Weisz.
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Agent contact details
Giles Smart
United Agents
12-26 Lexington Street
London W1F 0LE
T +44 (0) 20 3214 0800
Genres
Writer's credits
SCREENPLAYS
Last Christmas, original screenplay. In development, supported by a Wellcome Trust Development Award / BFI First Feature Funding. Director Amanda Boyle, producer Judy Counihan (Solution 3/Company Films)
Crooked Heart, adapted from the novel by Lissa Evans. In development with BBC Films and Braven Films. Producers Frida Torresblanco and Rachel Weisz
Excellent Women, adapted from the novel by Barbara Pym. In development with BBC Films & Raindog Films
Captain Webb, original screenplay. Director Justin Hardy, producers John Toba & James Salter (Marathon Films, Miramax); cinema release in 2015 http://www.marathonfilms.co.uk
Want of a Wife, original screenplay by Jemma Kennedy and Justin Hardy & John Toba. Optioned by Hardy Pictures 2010, director Justin Hardy, producer Manuela Noble
PLAYS
The Bank of Britain. Commission by the National Theatre, in development
The Gift. Produced at New Vic Theatre in 2015, director Gemma Fairlie
Second Person Narrative. Commission by Tonic Theatre for Platform, published by Nick Hern Books 2015
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, adapted by Jemma Kennedy. Produced at the Unicorn Theatre in 2014, director Douglas Rintoul
The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks, adapted by Lynne Reid Banks and Jemma Kennedy; optioned by the Ambassadors Theatre Group 2014
Tango by Slawormir Mrożek, adapted by Jemma Kennedy. Staged showcase at the Young Vic in 2014, director Andrea Ferran
Don’t Feed the Animals. Produced at The Shed, National Theatre for NT Connections in 2013
The Grand Irrationality. Produced at the Lost Theatre Studio Los Angeles in 2013, director John Pleshette
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain adapted by Jemma Kennedy. Produced at Unicorn Theatre in 2012, director Selina Cartmell
A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Short play commissioned by the National Theatre for Paint Frame New Writing Festival 2011, unproduced
Sheep May Safely Graze. Commission by the National Theatre 2009.
The Seagull by Anton Chekhov adapted by Jemma Kennedy. Tabard Theatre 2007, director Anthony Shrubsall
Evensong. Site specific for Landscape Productions, Shropshire 2006, director Paul Warwick
The Windmill. Commissioned as part of a Jerwood Arvon Young Playwright’s Apprenticeship. Rehearsed Reading 2005, Soho Theatre, director Paul Warwick
Honesty Bar. Runner up, Royal Exchange Write Now Competition 2004. Rehearsed reading 2004, Royal Exchange Theatre, diretor Sarah Frankcom
RADIO
How to Remember the Dead. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play broadcast 2007, producer Polly Thomas
FICTION
Skywalking. Novel published in 2003 by Viking Penguin