Ben Musgrave

Ben Musgrave grew up in Britain, Bangladesh and India. His play Pretend You Have Big Buildings was the winner of the inaugural Bruntwood prize. It was performed in the main house of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in July 2007. He was subsequently commissioned by the National Theatre (and was also on attachment at the National Theatre Studio in 2012–13). Exams are Getting Easier, for the Birmingham Rep, was performed by the Young Rep in 2010.

Ben has written extensively about science. His play for Y Touring, Breathing Country, in association with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Wellcome Trust, toured the country in 2009–10 and was shortlisted for the Theatre Centre Brian Way award. Stunted Trees and Broken Bridges, about neuro-intervention, toured the country in 2013. A filmed version of the play was screened in Picturehouse cinemas.

Ben has also worked with ex-offenders. His play for a mixed cast of professionals and ex-offenders, His Teeth, at the Only Connect space in 2011, was the London Evening Standard and Time Out critics’ choice and was nominated for an Offwestend.com award for best new play.  He is now under commission to The Big House, a new company working with care-leavers.

Much of his work is inspired by his international childhood — for example, his afternoon play for BBC Radio 4, The British Club (2012), starring Sanjeev Bhaskar and Samantha Bond, was set in Bangladesh. He teaches creative writing at Westminster University and playwriting at Regent’s University. He lives in Sydenham with his wife and daughter.