Shaun McCarthy

Shaun McCarthy is a playwright, poet and education resources author. His plays for the stage include Circus Britannica and Beanfield (Bike Shed Theatre, 2011, 2010), Collider and No Blind Faith (Ustinov Studio, Bath Theatre Royal, 2009), Safe (Grit Productions new writing award in 2008), Honest: untouchable, See His Face and A Frail Light in the Desert (Bristol Old Vic, 2002, 2001, 2000), Driving to Midnight (Monkey Jacket Theatre, Actor’s Centre and Brighton Festival, 1999). His radio dramas include Fireworks (BBC Radio 4, 2000) and The Aran Islands (an adaptation of J.M. Synge’s play for BBC Radio 4, 1996).

He has written four collections of poetry and more than 20 educational titles on English literature (including guides to eight Shakespeare plays), modern drama and creative writing. He has taught writing for performance at Oxford and Bristol universities. He has held more than 20 writer-in-residence posts in every type of setting, from arts festivals to prisons, inner-city hostels for the homeless to residential courses for gifted young artists. He is an Arts Council theatre assessor. Shaun lives in Bristol and tries to improve his accordion playing when not writing.