Biography of Ian Buckley

Ian won an exhibition to Christ's College, Cambridge where he gained an Honours degree in English Literature and then proceeded to gain an MA from Kent University on Sean O'Casey, a playwright he loves and admires. Whilst teaching in the post-16 sector, Ian directed his students in contemporary and classical plays from Shakespeare to Wertenbaker, Cregan, Antrobus and Willy Russell. He began to write and present his own works with his students - his early play 'Best Friends' being highly commended by the National Student Drama Festival assessor. He followed this up with a number of fringe productions of his own at The Kings Head (Keeping Faith); the Duke's Head (First Timers); The Room, The Orange Tree (Suits and Blouses); a community touring play with the Theatre Royal, Stratford East (Down The River) and a radio play for BBC Radio Four (Changing Gear). Ian has been short-listed for the Verity Bargate award (once) and forwarded to the second round (once). He has been awarded an Arts Council Writers bursary to complete work on his play Lenin in London (now finished). His play, Keeping Faith, was short-listed in the Maddermarket full-length play competition, and Isabel and the Matador was runner-up in the National Festival of Community Drama competiton. Ian has recently presented two showcase evenings of his plays at The Old Red Lion (Picasso's Artful Occupation and Tainted Love) and has had presentation showcases of Phillip Glin (Soho Theatre) and Tainted Love (Yvonne Arnaud). He currently writes and directs for Actors and Writers, London and attends a new writers group run by the Palace Theatre Watford.