We have mentioned:

Alan Bennett
Martin McDonagh
Tony Kushner
Anna Deveare Smith
Terry Johnson
Tom Stoppard
Brian Friel
Conor McPherson
Patrick Marber
Mark Ravenhill
Caryl Churchill


I have to add four who were previously overlooked: David Mamet, John Guare, David Hare. Mike Leigh? Did we miss any?

Jay?

Tut tut Playfull! We're not allowed to talk about our own any more, nor be frivolous! The Great God Pearson has spoken!

We forgot Harold Pinter.

Can I put in a bid for Charlotte Jones as a future 'greatest living' candidate?

Quote from Charlotte Jones:

'We're particularly good at slagging off each other's work in this country. The reviewers may be a pretty erratic bunch, but this may be the nature of theatre everywhere.'

If you ever get a chance to see CJ's Humble Boy, do it!

John Godber? Bouncers is a classic.

Alan Ayckbourn

Noel Coward

Shakespeare

Love the fact that I was mentioned... *Strokes ego*

Have to admit that I am not a fan of Pinter... But I am stunned that we've not mentioned...

Willy Russell!

Whoops! Delete my last two posts. Only just read you said LIVING!

A glass too many of the old vino tonight, I think. Hic!

You mean Shakespeare is dead!!!!

That's it! Where's the lager!

Come now folks you missed the first two greatest
playwrights and the most popular.
Alan Ayckbourn
and John Godber
I'd also like to give a shout for Howard Baker and Peter Gill
and did I see Sarah Kane amongst your list.

OK, we've narrowed it to living playwrights so that takes out Sarah Kane. As our cutie Aurora realised eventually.

I personally would not add Ayckbourn to the list. In fact, I think only appeals to a very particular type of English person. I don't know Baker and Gill - what have they done?

I'm assuming that you have to have written more than one great play to be included in the list.

quote:

You mean Shakespeare is dead!!!!

That's it! Where's the lager!

Noooo! It can't be!

I didn't even know he'd been ill!

How about Jim Cartwright and Peter Nichols?

You know... My reading list is getting longer...

Cool!

quote:

Originally posted by Blue_Sky:
How about Jim Cartwright and Peter Nichols?

What have they done?

quote:

Peter Nichols?

Peter Nichols wrote "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg"- which seems always to be running somewhere in the world at any given time.

It's about a family's struggle with a disabled child- it's not as bleak as this may suggest.

quote:

Originally posted by Swann1719:

What have they done?

Jim Cartwright wrote Road, Two and Little Voice. He is quite a familiar name.

quote:

Originally posted by Lewes:

quote:

Peter Nichols?

Peter Nichols wrote "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg"- which seems always to be running somewhere in the world at any given time.

It's about a family's struggle with a disabled child- it's not as bleak as this may suggest.

Yeah, its very humorous and imaginative. It's different from what you would normally expect from a play on this topic. It's great when a writer thinks outside of the box.

Cartwright is one of those playwrights loved by actors but less so by the playgoer. Two, for example, is a bloody marvellous piece for actors whether by two, an actor and an actress doing seven parts each; or by fourteen actors/actress as a series of duologues. But I'm not sure the audience quite understand the lack of continuity. The end is a wonderful emotional firework display between landlord and landlady. Cartwright is also by the way very dismissive of AmDram and even drama students although he is by profession a teacher.
Don't know if we've mentioned Peter Terson. He's popular because of his large casts and has a new play almost ready to go into performance.

Did Rise and Fall of LIttle Voice become the film LIttle Voice?

I have certainly heard of Joe Egg and Bed.

There's just so many.

Anyone ever seen anything by Marina Carr? Bog of Cats? Her new play at the Royal Court is being well reviewed.