Peter John Cooper

Welcome

Welcome to my website. I hope you’ll find all sorts of things to amuse you with links to some of my poems (“Poem of the Week”) and projects as well as my history and publications (“About”)and, if you are a booker, information under the heading “Press” that you can use directly for publicity. Any events that I’m taking part in with dates and so on in the “News” section but if there’s anything you like to know then just go to “Contact”. I’ve just completed writing a directing Part 2 of “The Fisherman’s Daughter” called “Jess’s Odyssey” for AsOne Theatre Co. That’s now touring libraries, schools and arts centres in the South West of the UK. I’ll put details of public performances elsewhere. Meanwhile I’m working on my Blog “Belief, Bias and Common Humanity” on spyway.blogspot.com on being a playwright in this crazy new world we find ourselves in.

Publications

Recent work available to purchase online

Blood and Bones Theatre Can theatre provide a plausible, authentic narrative for this Age of Fakery? My meditation on being a playwright in the 21st Century. Follow this post and then Click on this link … read more

She Opened the Door “More than a play” A controversial attempt to understand Thomas Hardy by looking at the women who surrounded him. An actual play script and essays on the extensive research that produced it. Amazon link http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peter-John-Cooper/e/B00ABZSPLU… read more

The Death of the Hurdy Gurdy Boy “It is dark as history is dark” Tommy is the ghost of a Victorian street urchin. He cannot rest until he finds who murdered him and why. He enlists the help of lonely teenage violinist Tamara and together they embark on an extraordinary journey through an alien 21st century. Funny, touching and, at times, disturbing.… read more

Feer of The Future “to make you shudder and smile” Science Fiction as you remember it. Robots, alien space invasion, travel to distant galaxies. Peter John Cooper the master story-teller draws his inspiration from the classics of the genre, Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells, Kurt Vonnegut and Phillip K. Dick. 23 bite sized pieces of fiction and poetry to make you shudder and smile.… read more

New York Kidnap “a fascinating story” Tamara the young violinist is held captive in a New York hotel room and, deeply scared, she pleads for help from the only person in the world who can help her, Tommy the ghost of a Victorian street urchin. A startling chase across the United States ending up in a small mining town in South Dakota while a blizzard rages.… read more

Peter John Cooper – Plays Online A selection from Peter John Cooper’s extensive back catalogue. Thrillers, adaptations and comedies. Available to buy online from Lazy Bee Press – http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/Authors/Author.aspx?iIA=416… read more

From the West Cliff

Mary Anning’s Fossil Depot

“Anning’s Fossil Depot” has just finished touring South West libraries. This is the third version of the Mary Anning story that I have written for AsOne Theatre Company. The first was “The Cabinet maker’s Daughter” (a reference to the description that Dickens wrote) and was an adult play centred round her last days dying of breast cancer. This one was an altogether jollier affair for children and centred around her relationship with her brother Joseph. I couldn’t have wished for a better cast than Jane McKell as the somewhat straight laced Mary and Eltjo deVries as her wayward brother. We had a lot of fun in rehearsal and it was one of those plays where the actors contributed hugely to the finished product. The reviews and feedback forms were extremely pleasing. Thank you AsOne.

Rattling Bones

The rattling bones of the old year
Will not lie down
Will not lie down
One last dance under a hard moon
Out on the town
Out on the town
One last mocking sarabande
In a moth eaten gown
Moth eaten gown.
Yet Calando dolente she must lie down
In leaf frosted snow
In leaf frosted snow
Her rattling bones in music unborn
Echoing down
Echoing down

Life and Death and Everything in Between

“life and Death and Everything in Between” is being prepared as part of BEAF for 6th May 2018. your diaries. We’ve already had a few hours together on the narrative and music. The next step is to firm up with Mermaids and some of the other voices. I’ve got a wonderful team coming together and we’ll be dealing with elements of soundscape next and visuals (lighting and projection) after that. If you still want to participate contact me and keep watching this space and the Facebook page Life and Death and Everything in Between. Look on Eventbrite Tickets to book for either the 5 o’clock or the 7.45 show.