Simon Vinnicombe – författare

Gripping drama of teenage struggle by talented new writer 'I walk to parks and stare into space...just stand there and sometimes I cry, so much that I feel I might not ever stop ...I stand in the parks with all the fruit bowls, drinking Special Brew and talking to themselves, I'm like a disappointed old man and I'm fifteen years old...' In the suburbs of south London, Jack moves to a new school where he is confronted by aggression, violence and anger. He dreams that time would speed up and hurry by, but then he meets Jamie. And suddenly she makes him wish time could just slow down and stop. An emotionally-charged, bruising yet tender story of the journey of a year in the life of a fifteen year old boy.'captures all the frustration, anger and fear of the introspective, put-upon teenager, and the helplessness of parents and teachers ...I believed every word. Which is truly terrifying' Lyn Gardner, Guardian

Can a computer program, that basically shuffles numbers of zero and one, duplicate the ability of the neurons to create minds, with mental states, understanding, perceiving. Can we replicate consciousness? David sets his brother Lewis up on a blind date with April. April is like no woman Lewis has ever met before. She is beautiful, kind and intelligent. In fact, she seems perfect, perhaps even too perfect to be real…A moving and fascinating story about the modern intersection of grief, technology and late capitalism, R and D asks what''s more powerful: science or the soul? And when it comes to our obsession with ''research and development'', how far is too far in the search for ''progress''?R and D was first performed at the Hampstead Theatre Downstairs on 22 September 2016.

Can a computer program, that basically shuffles numbers of zero and one, duplicate the ability of the neurons to create minds, with mental states, understanding, perceiving. Can we replicate consciousness? David sets his brother Lewis up on a blind date with April. April is like no woman Lewis has ever met before. She is beautiful, kind and intelligent. In fact, she seems perfect, perhaps even too perfect to be real…A moving and fascinating story about the modern intersection of grief, technology and late capitalism, R and D asks what’s more powerful: science or the soul? And when it comes to our obsession with ‘research and development’, how far is too far in the search for ‘progress’?R and D was first performed at the Hampstead Theatre Downstairs on 22 September 2016.

Can a computer program, that basically shuffles numbers of zero and one, duplicate the ability of the neurons to create minds, with mental states, understanding, perceiving. Can we replicate consciousness? David sets his brother Lewis up on a blind date with April. April is like no woman Lewis has ever met before. She is beautiful, kind and intelligent. In fact, she seems perfect, perhaps even too perfect to be real…A moving and fascinating story about the modern intersection of grief, technology and late capitalism, R and D asks what''s more powerful: science or the soul? And when it comes to our obsession with ''research and development'', how far is too far in the search for ''progress''?R and D was first performed at the Hampstead Theatre Downstairs on 22 September 2016.

Published as a programme text for the world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in October 2008, Cradle Me is a tender, powerful play about the aftermath of a family tragedy. Following an unspeakable yet avoidable tragedy, a family finds themselves torn apart by grief and turning for comfort to Daniel, the troubled teenage boy who lives next door. Having experienced their tragedy first hand, Daniel shares in their grief in a way that creates an individual bond with each member of the family. Louise is the prepubescent daughter whose burgeoning sexuality makes Daniel an obvious target for her affections. Graham is the grieving father who recognises Daniel as knowing his dead son in a way that he never could and now never will. However, it is Marion, the dead boy's mother, who expresses her grief through Daniel in a way that will ultimately lead both he and her family on a path that will irrevocably alter the course of their lives forever.

Published as a programme text for the world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in October 2008, Cradle Me is a tender, powerful play about the aftermath of a family tragedy. Following an unspeakable yet avoidable tragedy, a family findsthemselves torn apart by grief and turning for comfort to Daniel, thetroubled teenage boy who lives next door. Having experienced their tragedy first hand, Daniel shares intheir grief in a way that creates an individual bond with each memberof the family. Louise is the prepubescent daughter whose burgeoningsexuality makes Daniel an obvious target for her affections. Graham isthe grieving father who recognises Daniel as knowing his dead son in away that he never could and now never will. However, it is Marion, the dead boy''s mother, who expresses hergrief through Daniel in a way that will ultimately lead both he and herfamily on a path that will irrevocably alter the course of their livesforever.

Published as a programme text for the world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in October 2008, Cradle Me is a tender, powerful play about the aftermath of a family tragedy. Following an unspeakable yet avoidable tragedy, a family findsthemselves torn apart by grief and turning for comfort to Daniel, thetroubled teenage boy who lives next door. Having experienced their tragedy first hand, Daniel shares intheir grief in a way that creates an individual bond with each memberof the family. Louise is the prepubescent daughter whose burgeoningsexuality makes Daniel an obvious target for her affections. Graham isthe grieving father who recognises Daniel as knowing his dead son in away that he never could and now never will. However, it is Marion, the dead boy''s mother, who expresses hergrief through Daniel in a way that will ultimately lead both he and herfamily on a path that will irrevocably alter the course of their livesforever.

Gripping drama of teenage struggle by talented new writer

''I walk to parks and stare into space...just stand there and sometimes I cry, so much that I feel I might not ever stop . . . I stand in the parks with all the fruit bowls, drinking Special Brew and talking to themselves, I''m like a disappointed old man and I''m fifteen years old...''In the suburbs of south London, Jack moves to a new school where he is confronted by aggression, violence and anger. He dreams that time would speed up and hurry by, but then he meets Jamie. And suddenly she makes him wish time could just slow down and stop. An emotionally-charged, bruising yet tender story of the journey of a year in the life of a fifteen year old boy.

''captures all the frustration, anger and fear of the introspective, put-upon teenager, and the helplessness of parents and teachers . . . I believed every word. Which is truly terrifying'' Lyn Gardner, Guardian

Gripping drama of teenage struggle by talented new writer

''I walk to parks and stare into space...just stand there and sometimes I cry, so much that I feel I might not ever stop . . . I stand in the parks with all the fruit bowls, drinking Special Brew and talking to themselves, I''m like a disappointed old man and I''m fifteen years old...''In the suburbs of south London, Jack moves to a new school where he is confronted by aggression, violence and anger. He dreams that time would speed up and hurry by, but then he meets Jamie. And suddenly she makes him wish time could just slow down and stop. An emotionally-charged, bruising yet tender story of the journey of a year in the life of a fifteen year old boy.

''captures all the frustration, anger and fear of the introspective, put-upon teenager, and the helplessness of parents and teachers . . . I believed every word. Which is truly terrifying'' Lyn Gardner, Guardian

I feel like asking him to stay. To never leave this room. But I know that soon he will leave and...I''m going to ring him that night. I''m not going to write anything down. I might not even say anything. Just listen to him breathe.Lucy and Jim are alone. To the world they seem to be doing alright: they have jobs, friends, ambitions (well, sort of). But inside they are drowning. Until their chance meeting on a London night bus leads to a desperate search for redemption, each through the other. Inevitably, though, their hopes for salvation are dashed as deep-rooted insecurities rise to the surface.City Love is an unflinching look at the opposing human needs for companionship and self-destruction. Sharp observations transform the mundane into the epic in this grim, witty and agonizingly real play that will pierce the heart of anyone who has ever been in love.

I feel like asking him to stay. To never leave this room. But I know that soon he will leave and...I''m going to ring him that night. I''m not going to write anything down. I might not even say anything. Just listen to him breathe.Lucy and Jim are alone. To the world they seem to be doing alright: they have jobs, friends, ambitions (well, sort of). But inside they are drowning. Until their chance meeting on a London night bus leads to a desperate search for redemption, each through the other. Inevitably, though, their hopes for salvation are dashed as deep-rooted insecurities rise to the surface.City Love is an unflinching look at the opposing human needs for companionship and self-destruction. Sharp observations transform the mundane into the epic in this grim, witty and agonizingly real play that will pierce the heart of anyone who has ever been in love.

I feel like asking him to stay. To never leave this room. But I know that soon he will leave and...I’m going to ring him that night. I’m not going to write anything down. I might not even say anything. Just listen to him breathe.Lucy and Jim are alone. To the world they seem to be doing alright: they have jobs, friends, ambitions (well, sort of). But inside they are drowning. Until their chance meeting on a London night bus leads to a desperate search for redemption, each through the other. Inevitably, though, their hopes for salvation are dashed as deep-rooted insecurities rise to the surface.City Love is an unflinching look at the opposing human needs for companionship and self-destruction. Sharp observations transform the mundane into the epic in this grim, witty and agonizingly real play that will pierce the heart of anyone who has ever been in love.

Drawing together the work of ten leading playwrights - a mixture of established and emerging writers - this National Theatre Connections anthology is published to coincide with the 2014 festival, which takes place across the UK and finishes up at the National Theatre in London. It offers young performers between the ages of thirteen and nineteen everywhere an engaging selection of plays to perform, read or study. Each play is specifically commissioned by the National Theatre's literary department with the young performer in mind. The plays are performed by approximately 200 schools and youth theatre companies across the UK and Ireland, in partnership with multiple professional regional theatres where the works are showcased.As with previous anthologies, the volume will feature an introduction by Anthony Banks, Associate Director of the National Theatre Discover Programme, and each play includes notes from the writer and director addressing the themes and ideas behind the play, as well as production notes and exercises.The National Theatre Connections series has been running for nineteen years and the anthology that accompanies it, published for the last three years by Methuen Drama, is gaining a greater profile by the year. Some iconic plays have grown out of the Connections programme including Citizenship by Mark Ravenhill, Burn by Deborah Gearing, Chatroom by Enda Walsh, Baby Girl by Roy Williams, DNA by Dennis Kelly, and The Miracle by Lin Coghlan. The series has a recognisable brand and the anthologies continue to be an extremely useful resource, their value extending well beyond their year of publication.This year's anthology includes plays by Sabrina Mahfouz, Simon Vinnicombe, Catherine Johnson, Pauline McLynn, Dafydd James, Luke Norris and Sam Holcroft.

Drawing together the work of ten leading playwrights - a mixture of established and emerging writers - this National Theatre Connections anthology is published to coincide with the 2014 festival, which takes place across the UK and finishes up at the National Theatre in London. It offers young performers between the ages of thirteen and nineteen everywhere an engaging selection of plays to perform, read or study. Each play is specifically commissioned by the National Theatre''s literary department with the young performer in mind. The plays are performed by approximately 200 schools and youth theatre companies across the UK and Ireland, in partnership with multiple professional regional theatres where the works are showcased.As with previous anthologies, the volume will feature an introduction by Anthony Banks, Associate Director of the National Theatre Discover Programme, and each play includes notes from the writer and director addressing the themes and ideas behind the play, as well as production notes and exercises.The National Theatre Connections series has been running for nineteen years and the anthology that accompanies it, published for the last three years by Methuen Drama, is gaining a greater profile by the year. Some iconic plays have grown out of the Connections programme including Citizenship by Mark Ravenhill, Burn by Deborah Gearing, Chatroom by Enda Walsh, Baby Girl by Roy Williams, DNA by Dennis Kelly, and The Miracle by Lin Coghlan. The series has a recognisable brand and the anthologies continue to be an extremely useful resource, their value extending well beyond their year of publication.This year''s anthology includes plays by Sabrina Mahfouz, Simon Vinnicombe, Catherine Johnson, Pauline McLynn, Dafydd James, Luke Norris and Sam Holcroft.