Peter says:
I’ve been working in the professional theatre for over 40 years. That means I’ve been directing, writing and developing scripts. I’ve even done a bit of acting but probably the less said about that the better. Apart from that I’ve been involved in most aspects of live theatre over that time and have been Artistic Director of funded companies and managed and served on the board of several arts organisations. As a director I’ve been responsible for commissioning work from new and otherwise forgotten playwrights. I’ve also worked extensively with Adults with Learning Disabilities which has given me a great deal of satisfaction and I’ve been part of ACDC European initiative on Arts for Excluded Groups. As a writer I have over thirty plays recorded on the Doollee Database of UK produced playwrights. A number of these are published online with one of them She Opened the Door published in illustrated paperback form along with a commentary on the research I utilised in its creation. I’m a passionate advocate for the skills and craft of writing plays and mentors a number of projects both as writer and director and I’m trying to put what I’ve learnt down in a book which I’ve provisionally titled Belief, Bias and Common Humanity. In addition I perform my poetry and read my stories whenever and wherever I’m invited and I’ve got a number of short stories and novels published online. My play Eve of War: Little Arthur’s History of England about the futility of war still tours occasionally proving that it is as relevant now as when it was first written thirty years ago.
You can follow Peter on Facebook Peter John Cooper – Playwright or on his blog spyway.blogspot.com
What’s He Up To?
I’m currently working on a number of projects that will see the light of day soon. Life, Death and Everything in Between is being developed into a big warehouse show somewhere in the fashionable East End with Le Collectif International des Improvisateurs and I’m waiting to see what will happen to my play Rancid, which is a reworking of Titus Andronicus for Simon Jay. Eve of War tours occasionally. Meanwhile I’m continuing to convert my back catalogue into a format for publishing on line.
Some comments about Productions by Peter John Cooper
“…a play that is certain to become a theatrical treasure in the future”
‘She Opened the Door’ for AsOne Theatre Co. (Dorset Echo)
“ A genuine masterstroke of theatre”
‘ Don Quixote’ for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre (Oxford Mail)
“The unshowy positiveness of Peter Cooper’s direction”
‘Toeing the Line’ for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre (Oxford Mail)
“Peter Cooper directs with the utmost clarity and economy”
Frankenstein’ for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre (Oxford Mail)
“It was a wonderful event. I am so pleased I went and found it incredibly moving. Brilliant writing, acting, production.”
Christine Aziz, novelist
Peter John Cooper Plays Written 1972 – 2015
For Peter’s plays available from Lazy Bee Scripts click here or on the links in the table below
For play published in paperback by Roving Press click here or below
He’s Dead |
2013 | LazyBee Scripts | ||
A Brief Encounter with MURDER |
2012 | Lazybee Scripts | ||
Pig Unit |
2012 | |||
What Would Jane Say? |
2012 | Trisha Lewis | Southern England Tour | |
Anning’s Fossil Depot |
2011 | AsOne Theatre Co, | South West England Schools Tour | |
The Cabinet Maker’s Daughter |
2011 | AsOne Theatre Co. | South West England Tour | |
Everyone Wants to be Somewhere Else |
2011 | Cake Productions (Cornwall) | Fal River Festival | |
Mrs Adapta Iago’s Knitting Circle |
2011 | Spyway Projects | Rehearsed reading at Lighthouse, Poole | LazyBee Scripts |
She Opened the Door |
2010 | AsOne Theatre Co | World Premiere at the 19th International Thomas Hardy Festival, The Corn Exchange, Dorchester. And South West Tour | Published in paperback by Roving Press Ltd. |
Eve of War |
2009 | Spyway Projects | Reworking of “Little Arthur” for Radio and then Artsreach tour of Dorset | |
Welcome to the Future |
2007 | Hope FM | ||
Chelsea and Baz (With Tara Dominick) |
2007 | Hope FM | ||
The Lady of Shallott |
2007 | Hope FM | ||
Conversations at the Sorrento |
2007 | Hope FM | ||
The Town Hall Fish |
2007 | Hope FM | ||
Dead Air |
2007 | Hope FM | ||
The Time Machine |
2002 | Spyway Projects | ||
We Call it Home |
1999 | Spyway Projects | Commissioned for 50th Anniversary of Langton Matravers Scout and Guide HQ | |
Dick Whittington and his Crazee Cat |
1994 | Ici D’arte | ||
Captain Pugwash and the Monster of Green Island |
1993 | Spyway Projects | South Coast summer seasons and UK tour. Officially sanctioned by John Ryan. | |
Shahrazad(with the Company) |
1988 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | ||
The Trumpet Major |
1987 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | Published by LazyBee Scripts | |
Hiawatha |
1986 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | ||
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Vanishing Author |
1986 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | Published by LazyBee Scripts | |
The Runaway Train(with Jem Barnes) |
1985 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | World premiere at Oxford Playhouse | |
Little Arthur’s History of England |
1984 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | Oxford festival. Later rewritten as “Eve of War” | |
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
1983 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | ||
Jane Eyre(with Helen Palmer |
1982 | Oxfordshire Theatre Co. | ||
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine |
1981 | Theatr Clwyd | North Wales Tour | |
Robinson Crusoe |
1980 | Horseshoe Theatre Touring | ||
Little Red Riding Hood |
1979 | Horseshoe Theatre Touring | ||
I want to Fly |
1979 | Horseshoe Theatre Touring | ||
Krondos(with Jem Barnes) |
1978 | Horseshoe Theatre Touring | ||
The Jolly Farmer(with Jem Barnes) |
1976 | Horseshoe Theatre Co | ||
A Grave Matter(with Jem Barnes) |
1975 | Basingstoke Drama Centre | ||
Mummers’ Play |
1974 | Attic Theatre Co. | ||
A Christmas Carol(with Jem Barnes) |
1974 | Horseshoe Theatre Co. | ||
Whistling |
1972 |
Writing for Musical Performance
Life, Death and Everything in Between Extended performance with Powerpoint visuals and music by Roderick Skeaping.
Field of Fantasy Performance poetic discourse. With music by Matt Wilkinson 2008
Flexigesis Extended performance poetry with soundscape artist Si Walters 2007
The Purbeck Wheel a song cycle for a parish choir (lyrics) with Roderick Skeaping. First performance 26th October 2003 at St. George’s Church, Langton Matravers Dorset
Two Songs for Elizabeth (lyrics) with Roderick Skeaping. Performed by James Bowman and the English Consort of Viols at he Banqueting Hall of Whitehall Palace. June 2003
Our World of Shopping (libretto ) with Roderick Skeaping for 2002 Brighton Festival
The Elements (Lyric writer) choral work by Roderick Skeaping. World Premiere at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 1995
Commercial scripting projects for the RAC, Unipart, Home Office Fire Services Training College
Plus many children’s and schools’ educational plays
Poetry and Printed Work
Flexigesis Extended live performance recorded and published on cd
The Elements Published on the Web 2001
A Bunch of Fives Collection. Published 2002
Castaways A novel in short story form which shows how individuals react to life in a limited community in the days of global networking.
The Death of the Hurdy Gurdy Boy a detective whodunnit about a murdered hurdy gurdy player in Victorian London. With Elinor Rose Cooper. Available in all eBook formats.
The Hurdy Gurdy Boy and the New York Kidnap The second in the Ghost detective series
Feer of the Future Classic Science Fiction short story collection.
Fog Tiger A children’s novel of Chinese boxes dealing with world travel and alienation
Lying, Stealing and Cheating A manual on presentation technique based on twenty years in presentation coaching for commercial Organisations
Theatre Director
Directing What Would Jane Say? for Trisha Lewis 2013
Directing production of She Opened the Door for AsOne Theatre Co. -2010
Directing Production of Hey Baby by Nell Denton for AsOne Theatre Company – 2009
Visiting Director for A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn at the Arts Institute Bournemouth – 2007
Co-ordinator Sparkle Drama Project – 2005-2007 An ESF funded project working with adults with learning difficulties throughout Dorset. As well as achieving set learning targets, groups from 7 centres produce 18 small performances and one major theatre Piece (The Tempest).
Oxfordshire Touring Theatre, Oxford, – Artistic Director 1982-1988
Took moribund company with significant deficit and turned it into an active and viable organisation. Six years of expanding venues in communities throughout the region. Established new writing policy and was successful in achieving Arts Council funding for this Instigated new forms of community involvement. Directed over twenty productions for theatres and non-theatre venues
Director of Outreach Productions, Theatr Clwyd 1981-1982
Associate Director, Horseshoe Theatre Company, Basingstoke 1976-1979
Assistant Director, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe 1974
Over fifty productions directed altogether including Mid scale, National Touring, Local Touring, Community, and TIE.
Including: The Promise by Aleksi Arbuzov
All’s Well That End Well by William Shakespeare
Slag by David Hare
Intimate Exchanges (All 8 plays)Alan Ayckbourn
Review of She Opened the Door
More About Peter
Peter is also known now as an award winning performance poet. He can be seen in small clubs and dives throuhgout Dorset and beyond with his beat poetry and jazz ranting. One reviewer said: “… a brilliant poet delivering his poems with tremendous energy.”
You can follow Peter’s writing on his blog Peter John Cooper and his Arts observations on The View from the Westcliff
You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter
In 1996 he undertook a business management course at Bournemouth University and has been a very successful in developing creative ideas in the commercial world. Among his clients have been BP Exploration where he reworked their Health and Safety Induction Training Programme.