Simon Stephens studied at York University, then lived for two years in Edinburgh before moving to Lo ndon in 1994. His first play, Sleep of the Just, was staged at the New Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in 1994; his next, Bring Me Sunshine, at the Assembly Rooms at the 1997 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, transferring to the Riverside Studios in London the same year. His next play, Bluebird, was produced by the Royal Court in London in 1998 as part of their 'Choice' festival of new writing and received much critical acclaim.

Stephens is terrific on the rituals of fear and violence