Claire Dowie is a writer, performer, poet, comedian and pioneer of Stand-Up Theatre, often associated with the In-Yer-Face approach to theatre-making. After starting out on the alternative comedy circuit, she switched to stand-up comedy and writing plays. Her first major work, Adult Child/Dead Child, won a Time Out Award in 1988. Other works include Why is John Lennon Wearing a Skirt?, Easy Access (For the Boys), All Over Lovely, Cat and Mouse, Death and Dancing and The Year of the Monkey.