Gary Mitchell facts for kids

Gary Mitchell was born on 3 May 1965. He is a famous writer from Northern Ireland. By the 2000s, many people saw him as one of the most important voices in European theatre. His exciting plays, often called "political thrillers," have made him a very well-known playwright from Northern Ireland.

You can find out more about him on his Instagram page: Gary Mitchell Official: https://www.instagram.com/garymitchellofficial?igsh=Mm1hYXJ2bzQ5nTU=: https://www.instagram.com/garymitchellofficial?igsh=Mm1hYXJ2bzQ5nTU=.

Gary grew up in a working-class area with a loyalist background. He started his writing journey by creating plays for Radio 4. His first play for the stage was produced by a group called Tinderbox. However, his biggest success came with his play In A Little World of Our Own. This play was shown at the Peacock Theatre. It was a powerful story about loyalist culture. In 1997, it won The Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play. Later, it traveled to Belfast as part of an Abbey Theatre tour. The next year, the Peacock Theatre also produced his play As The Beast Sleeps.

In 1999, Gary was a writer-in-residence at the Royal National Theatre in London. This means he worked there as a special guest writer. His plays have also been shown for the first time at London's Royal Court Theatre. His play Force of Change won a big award called the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright. He also won the important Stewart Parker Award for Independent Voice. Another award he received was the George Devine Award.

In November 2005, Gary and his family had to leave their home in Rathcoole, a suburb of Belfast. This was due to attacks by local groups. They had to live in hiding in Northern Ireland for a while. This difficult time meant Gary had to stop writing for five years. After this break, he continued his successful career. He later won the Aisling Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture.

Gary Mitchell's Works

Gary Mitchell has written many different types of stories. He has created plays for the stage, radio shows, television episodes, and even films.

Plays for the Stage

Here are some of the plays Gary Mitchell has written for theatres:

• Pride of the Shore (2024) Mac Theatre, Belfast
• Burnt Out (2023) Lyric Theatre, Belfast
• Silly Moos (2023) (For primary schools) Grand Opera House, Belfast
• Safe as Seasons (2018) Festival, Belfast
• 1932:The People of Gallagher Street (2016) with Martin Lynch, The Mac, Belfast
• Smiley (2016) Lyric Theatre, Belfast
• Demented (2014) Lyric Theatre, Belfast
• Forget Turkey (We liked it so much we're going to Phuket again) (2013) with Dan Gordon and Colin Murphy, Lyric Theatre, Belfast
• Re-energize (2013) Playhouse, Derry
• Forget Turkey (We're going to Phuket this Christmas) (2012) with Dan Gordon and Colin Murphy, Lyric Theatre, Belfast
• Love Matters (2012) Aisling Ghear, Belfast
• Remnants of Fear (2005) Dubbeljoint, Belfast
• Loyal Women (2003) Royal Court Downstairs, London
• The Force of Change (2000) Royal Court Upstairs/Downstairs, London
• Marching On (2000) Lyric, Belfast
• Holding Cell (2000) Tinderbox, Belfast
• Energy (1999) Playhouse, Derry
• Trust (1999) Royal Court Upstairs, London
• Tearing the Loom (1998) Lyric, Belfast
• As the Beast Sleeps (1998) Peacock, Dublin
• In a Little World of Our Own (1997) Peacock, Dublin
• Sinking (1997) Replay, Belfast
• That Driving Ambition (1995) Replay, Belfast
• Alternative Future (1994) Point Fields, Belfast
• Independent Voice (1993) Tinderbox, Belfast

Radio Plays

Gary Mitchell has also written many plays that were broadcast on the radio:

• Tubes (2022) RTE Radio 1
• Fighting Cowardice (2014) RTÉ Radio 1
• Ulster Volunteers (2014) RTÉ Radio 1
• Loves Worst Day (2013) BBC Radio 4
• Babies (2012) RTÉ Radio 1
• Freedom of Poverty (2011) RTÉ Radio 1
• Ian Really Likes Mary (2010) RTÉ Radio 1
• Echoes of War (2009) BBC Radio 3
• Forgotten People Part Two (2009) RTÉ Radio 1
• Forgotten People Part One (2009) RTÉ Radio 1
• Just 'Cause (2008) RTÉ Radio 1
• Loyal Women (2003) BBC Radio 4
• The Force of Change (2002) BBC Radio 4
• As the Beast Sleeps (2001) BBC Radio 4
• At the Base of the Pyramid (1997) BBC Radio 4
• Drumcree (1996) BBC Radio 4
• Dividing Force Episode Three: Useless Tools (1995) BBC Radio 4
• Dividing Force Episode Two: Raising the Standard (1995) BBC Radio 4
• Dividing Force Episode One: Above the Law (1995) BBC Radio 4
• Stranded (1995) BBC Radio 3
• Mandarin Lime (1995) with Jimmy Murphy BBC Radio 3
• Poison Hearts (1994) BBC Radio 4
• Independent Voice (1993) BBC Radio 4
• A Tearful of Dreams (1993) BBC Radio 4
• The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1991) BBC Radio 4

Television and Films

Gary Mitchell has also worked on TV shows and movies:

• Eight Days That Made Rome (episodes) (2017) Channel 5 (UK)
• Suffering (2003) Writer/director
• As the Beast Sleeps (2002) BBC 2
• An Officer From France (1998) RTÉ 1
• Made in Heaven (1996) BBC Education

Published Plays

Some of Gary Mitchell's plays have been published as books, so people can read them:

• Burnt Out (2023) Link to book
• Loyal Women (2003) Link to book
• As the Beast Sleeps (2001) Link to book
• The Force of Change (2000) Link to book
• Trust (1999) Link to book
• Tearing the Loom (1998) Link to book
• In a Little World of Our Own (1998) Link to book

Awards and Achievements

Gary Mitchell has won many awards for his writing. These awards show how talented he is.

Theatre Awards

• Aisling Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture (2006) for Remnants of Fear
• Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright (2000) for The Force of Change
• Joint winner George Divine Award (2000) for The Force of Change
• Pearson Best New Play Award (1999) for Trust
• Belfast Arts Drama Award (1998) for Sinking
• Belfast Arts Drama Award (1998) for In a Little World of Our Own
• Irish Times Best New Play Award (1997) for In a Little World of Our Own

Film Awards

• Belfast Arts Award for Best Film (2002) for As the Beast Sleeps
• Best Short Film, Belfast Film Festival (2003) for Suffering

See also

• List of Northern Irish writers