Laurence Allan – Writer
Excerpt from: The New Companion to the Literature of Wales – editor Meic Stephens
‘Born 1954 in Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan. His passionate, humane and sometimes angry concern for the plight of ordinary people is evident in much of his writing. Above all he articulates feelings of disempowerment experienced by those who find themselves caught up in economic and political changes beyond their control. Although the world he presents is often bleak, his plays are also characterized by mordant black humour and an affectionate, sharp ear for the idiomatic English of South Wales.’
1985 ‘Over the Wall and Back Again’, Writer & Director Made in Wales,
1986 Duel at Twilight, Spectacle Theatre
1988 ‘A Blow to Bute Street’, Sherman Theatre
1990 ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’, Made in Wales/Theatr Clwyd/Sherman
1991 The Valley of the Kings is a Community Play about Pontypridd
1994 ‘On the Road Again’, Hijinx Theatre, Wales & England Tour
1995 BBC 2 Wales TV He made his television debut with ‘Rainbow Chaser’
1996 ‘Stairway to Heaven’, Hijinx Theatre, Wales & England Tour
1997 ‘Dangerous Acquaintances’ Hijinx Theatre, Wales & England Tour
1997 ‘Cradle to the Grave’ Welsh College of Music and Drama.
1990 ‘There’s Only One Siswe Bansi’ 55’ BBC Radio 4.
1995 ‘I Was a Teenage Playboy’ 30’
1996 ‘Cries Across the Tracks’ 55’
1998 ‘King of the Mountains’ 90’ screenplay BBC Wales commissioned/unproduced
1998 – 2001 ‘Station Road’ – BBC Radio Wales Daily Soap scriptwriting (over 50 episodes) & storylining
2000 Publication of anthology of Three Plays by Seren
On the Road Again
The Best Years of Our Lives
Cradle to the Grave
2000 The Mountain – BBC 2 Xcel – Documentary subject – L’Etape du Tour
2001 ‘Down the Docks and Up the Bay’ – BBC Radio Wales 30’
2002 ‘Angels Don’t Need Wings’ – Hijinx Theatre 21st Anniversary production
2002 ‘More than just a Game’ – Plymouth Theatre Royal,
2003 ‘Wouldn’t it be Better if he Died in the End?’ BBC Radio 4 60’
2004 ‘It was Twenty Years Ago Today’. BBC Radio Wales 60’
2004 ‘For Ever’ – Adaptation of Short Story – Plymouth Theatre Royal
2004 ‘Flowers from Tunisia’ – Theatr y Byd
2005 ‘If you can’t sing, stand at the back of the hall.’ – Plymouth Theatre Royal/York Theatre Royal & Unicorn Theatre, London
2005/6 ‘I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Shout’ winner of Writer’s Room Broken & Blue Award BBC Radio 3
2006 ‘Truth or Dare’ celebrating Aberdare – BBC Radio Wales
2007 ‘Reason to Believe’ – Sherman Cymru commission, in development
2007 ‘Dream it, Build it ‘– Valleys Kids and Arts & Business Cymru promo video
script http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUYqDXM7swA
2008 Operation Zulu/ Mzansi Cymru Project commission – Valleys Kids, Cultural Olympiad
2009 Stairway To Heaven – On The Edge – tour.
2009 Gladiator – Spectacle Theatre /RCT Commssion – ongoing
2009 The Magic Box Valleys Kids and Arts & Business Cymru promo video
script http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CcNqvHTu6Q
2009 Operation Zulu – Mzansi Cymru showcase. Pop Factory, Porth
2010 The Day Stanley Baker Died The Zulus Rapped on Llanwonno Mountain – (Writer & Director) Mzansi Cymru showcase, Soar Centre, Penygraig
2011 Life on Robben Island (Writer & Director) – Unusual Stage School, Disability Arts Cymru + Valleys Kids collaboration: Mzansi Cymru, Glanfa Stage, WMC
2011 Flowers from Tunisia, Torch Theatre + Wales Tour
2011 ‘Torchbearers’ Showcase, (Writer & Director) Zip Zap Circus, Cape Town
2011/12 Schools & Community Writing Workshops – Mzansi Cymru Development
2012 The Castle – Awen Project – Caerphilly CBC + Heolddu Comprehensive, Cauldrons & Furnaces, Cultural Olympiad
2012 ‘Torchbearers’ (Writer & Director) Donald Gordon Theatre, WMC & Artscape Theatre, Cape Town, South Africa