Paul Boakye is a British writer, editor, campaigner, and marketing executive. He is best known for his provocative drama, ''
Boy with Beer'', and for his work as editor and creator of Black Britain's premiere men's lifestyle magazine, ''DRUM.''
Early life
Paul moved to Jamaica with his father in 1966, returning to England after seven years. He attended Hollydale Primary School in Nunhead until 1975 and went to
Sedgehill School
Sedgehill Academy, previously Sedgehill School, is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form located in Lewisham, London, England. It is part of United Learning.
History
The school opened in 1957 as a flagship campus for the new compreh ...
for the next five years.
Career
He was editor of ''DRUM'' magazine (2003-2005) and received a Creative and Life Writing master's degree at
Goldsmiths, University of London. As a Commissioner for the
Power Inquiry, he contributed to ''Power to the People,'' a report on the future of democracy in Britain debated in Parliament. He has been a guest speaker/broadcaster for radio and TV, as well as a regular newspaper reviewer on
BBC Breakfast
''BBC Breakfast'' is the BBC television Breakfast television, breakfast news programme. Produced by BBC News, the programme is broadcast on BBC One and the BBC News (TV channel), BBC News channel. The simulcast is presented live, originally from ...
.
Awards and recognition
Boakye has won the UK Student Playscript Award with ''
Jacob's Ladder'' (1986) and the BBC Radio Drama Young Playwrights' Award with ''Hair'' (1991). His controversial stage play
Boy with Beer is published by
Methuen Drama in ''Black Plays 3'' and is described as Britain's first black gay play. He is also the author of ''No Mean Street''
for Kuffdem and
Red Ladder Theatre Company, ''Wicked Games'' produced by
Leeds Playhouse, and the video drama ''Safe'' for
Birmingham Health Authority
NHS West Midlands was a strategic health authority (SHA) of the National Health Service in England. It operated in the West Midlands region, which is coterminous with the local government office region. It was abolished in April 2013.
Genera ...
and The Young Men's Video Project.
Boakye was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth II at
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...
in recognition of his sexual health promotion work with African communities in Britain, which has included editing a selection of ground-breaking health promotion publications.
References
Further reading
Publications
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External links
Author's Blog
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boakye, Paul
1963 births
Living people
Black British writers
English people of Ghanaian descent
English people of Jamaican descent
People from the London Borough of Islington
20th-century British dramatists and playwrights
British male dramatists and playwrights
21st-century British male writers