Stephen Brown

Stephen Brown is a writer, translator and dramaturg.

Stephen’s plays include Occupational Hazards (Hampstead Theatre, 2017), an adaptation of Rory Stewart’s memoir about attempting to govern a province in post-war Iraq, and Future Me (two UK and two US productions, 2007–9), which follows a successful young lawyer into jail and back out again after he is convicted of sex offences. Both are published by Oberon Books. He collaborated with Filter Theatre to script their fringe hit Faster (BAC, UK tour, 59E59 New York, 2003–5).

He has translated four books from German into English, most recently Norbert Scheuer’s The Language of Birds (Haus, 2018). He has worked as a dramaturg and script adviser on several shows, including the work of the dance theatre company, Clod Ensemble. He was previously a theatre critic (for Radio 4’s Front Row and the TLS among others) and publisher of Prospect magazine.

He is currently writing an epic drama for Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre, a sequence of short stories, and a novel. He is interested in animals, outsiders, monsters, grief, politics, anger, bodies and change.

Stephen has taught creative writing to adults for nearly a decade. His years as a book editor and his work for Plain English Campaign early in his career showed him the magical power of straightening out tangled prose. He has a passion for clear writing and enjoys helping people express themselves well.