Caryl Churchill
Introduction
Caryl Churchill (b. 1938 in London), wrote radio and television plays for the BBC in the 1960s and '70s. In 1972, her first professional play, Owners, was premiered. In 1974, she became Resident Dramatist of the Royal Court, for a year. In the 1980s, she worked with numerous theatre companies, including Joint Stock and Monstrous Regiment, producing such works as Cloud Nine, and A Mouthful of Birds, which she co-wrote with David Lan. Her theatrical works from that time earned her three Obie Awards, and a Society of West End Theatre Award in 1988.
Churchill's work began to take on a more ethereal quality, while also continuing to explore sexual politics from a feminist stance. Her 1991 play, Lives of the Great Prisoner—in collaboration with composer Orlando Gough and choreographer Ian Spink—incorporated dance, mime and singing into her script. The 1990s also yielded Churchill's plays Mad Forest and Striker.
In 2000 her play, Far Away, made its debut at the Royal Court. In 2005, her revamp of Strindberg's A Dream Play was staged at the National Theatre.
In 2009, Churchill's play, Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza, her response to Israel's attack on Gaza, was subject to controversy for its portrayal of Israelis.
In 2010, Churchill was honoured by Royal Holloway College when its new theatre was named after her.
