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Rona Munro (born 7 September 1959) is a Scottish writer. She has written plays for theatre, radio, and television. Her film work includes
Ken Loach
Kenneth Charles Loach (born 17 June 1936) is a British film director and screenwriter. His socially critical directing style and socialist ideals are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as poverty (''Poor Cow'', 1967), homelessne ...
's ''
Ladybird, Ladybird'' (1994), ''
Oranges and Sunshine
''Oranges and Sunshine'' is a 2010 Australian drama film directed by Jim Loach as his directorial debut. It stars Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham, with a screenplay by Rona Munro, based on the 1994 book ''Empty Cradles'' by Margaret Hu ...
'' (2010) for
Jim Loach
James Loach (born 6 June 1969) is a British film director.
Early life
Jim Loach was born in London to Ken Loach and Lesley Ashton in June 1969, one of five children. He studied philosophy at University College London.
Career
Loach intended t ...
and ''
Aimée & Jaguar
''Aimée & Jaguar'' is a 1999 German drama film set in Berlin during World War II. It was written and directed by Max Färberböck and based on Erica Fischer's book chronicling the actual lives of Lilly Wust and Felice Schragenheim during tha ...
'' (1999), co-authored by German director
Max Färberböck
Max Färberböck (born 22 September 1950) is a German film director and writer. He was born in Brannenburg, Bavaria. He began his career at theaters in Buenos Aires and in Italy. He later studied at the University of Television and Film Munich, U ...
. Munro is the second cousin (once removed) of Scottish author
Angus MacVicar
Angus MacVicar (28 October 1908, Argyll – 31 October 2001, Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute) was a Scottish author with a wide-ranging output. His greatest successes came in three separate genres: crime thrillers, juvenile science fiction, and a ...
.
She was famous for writing the
last serial of the original ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'' in 1989, and then writing an
episode
An episode is a narrative unit within a larger dramatic work or documentary production, such as a series intended for radio, television or streaming consumption.
The noun ''episode'' is derived from the Greek term ''epeisodion'' (), meaning t ...
for the tenth series of the revived ''Doctor Who'' in 2017, making her the only writer to work in both the classic and revival eras of ''Doctor Who''.
Career
Munro's work on ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'' was not limited to just ''
Survival
Survival, or the act of surviving, is the propensity of something to continue existing, particularly when this is done despite conditions that might kill or destroy it. The concept can be applied to humans and other living things (or, hypotheti ...
'' (1989) and "
The Eaters of Light
"The Eaters of Light" is the tenth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. It was written by Rona Munro and broadcast on 17 June 2017 on BBC One. Munro previously wrote ''Survival'', the fina ...
" (2016).
She later novelised both stories for the original and revived range of
Target Books
Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well ...
, respectively.
Her history cycle The James Plays, ''James I'', ''James II'', and ''James III'', were first performed by the
National Theatre of Scotland
The National Theatre of Scotland, established in 2006, is the national theatre company of Scotland. The company has no theatre building of its own; instead it tours work to theatres, village halls, schools and site-specific locations, both at h ...
in summer 2014 in a co-production with
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, spread over the final three weeks in August. Notable figures from the international world of music (especially classical music) and the performing arts are i ...
and the National Theatre UK. The plays were staged again in early 2016. She followed this up with ''James IV - The Queen of the Fight'' in 2022. Her other credits include the theatre play ''Iron'' which has received many productions worldwide. Other theatre works include plays for the
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963 by John Calder, John Malcolm, Jim Haynes and Richard Demarco.
The Traverse Theatre company commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary pla ...
Edinburgh (''Fugue'', ''Your Turn To Clean The Stair'', ''Strawberries in January'' translation), Manchester Royal Exchange (''Mary Barton'', ''Scuttlers''), Plymouth Drum Theatre and
Paines Plough
Paines Plough is a touring theatre company founded in 1974 by writer David Pownall and director John Adams.
The company specialises exclusively in commissioning and producing new plays and helping playwrights develop their craft.
Over the past ...
(''Long Time Dead''), and the
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...
(''The Indian Boy'', ''The Astronaut's Chair'').
Munro has also contributed eleven dramas to
Radio 4's ''Stanley Baxter Playhouse'': ''
First Impressions'', ''
Wheeling Them In'', ''
The King's Kilt'', ''
Pasta Alfreddo at Cafe Alessandro'', ''
The Man in the Garden'', ''
The Porter's Story'', ''
The German Pilot'', ''
The Spider
The Spider is an American pulp-magazine hero of the 1930s and 1940s. The character was created by editor Harry Steeger and written by a variety of authors for 118 monthly issues of ''The Spider'' from 1933 to 1943. A 119th Spider novel manuscrip ...
'', ''
The Showman
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'', ''
Meg's Tale'', and ''
The Flying Scotsman''.
In 2006 the
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith presented Munro's adaptation of
Richard Adams' classic book ''
Watership Down
''Watership Down'' is an adventure novel by English author Richard Adams, published by Rex Collings Ltd of London in 1972. Set in Berkshire in southern England, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natural ...
''. Her early television work includes episodes of the drama series ''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'' (
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
) and, more recently, a BBC film, ''Rehab'', directed by Antonia Bird.
Rona Munro currently lives and works in Scotland. Her play ''The Last Witch'' was performed at the 2009
Edinburgh Festival
__NOTOC__
This is a list of arts and cultural festivals regularly taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The city has become known for its festivals since the establishment in 1947 of the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fe ...
, directed by
Dominic Hill
Dominic Hill is Artistic Director at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow. He took up post in October 2011.
Early life
Hill was born in Wimbledon on 22 April 1969.
Career
From 2008 to 2011 he was artistic director at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburg ...
, and in 2011 by
Dumbarton People's Theatre
Dumbarton People's Theatre (often abbreviated to DPT) is an amateur theatre group which exists in the town of Dumbarton in Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island o ...
. In 2018, a production of her adaptation of ''
My Name Is Lucy Barton
''My Name is Lucy Barton'' is a 2016 ''New York Times'' bestselling novel and the fifth novel by the American writer Elizabeth Strout. The book was first published in the United States on January 12, 2016 through Random House. The book details t ...
'' starring
Laura Linney
Laura Leggett Linney (born February 5, 1964) is an American actress. Having studied acting at Juilliard School (1986-1990), she became known for her complex and multilayered performances on stage and screen. She has received various accolades, ...
opened in London.
Awards
*
Giles Cooper Award
The Giles Cooper Awards were honours given to plays written for BBC Radio. Sponsored by the BBC and Methuen Drama, the awards were specifically focused on the script of the best radio drama produced in the past year. Five or six winners were chose ...
for ''Dirt Under The Carpet'', 1988
*
Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is the largest and oldest playwriting prize for women+ writing for English-speaking theatre. Named for Susan Smith Blackburn (1935–1977), alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.
W ...
, 1991
*
Evening Standard Award
The ''Evening Standard'' Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and are organised by the ''Evening Standa ...
, NOOK Award for Best Play for ''The James Plays'', 2014
*
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG).
History
The un ...
Award, Best Play for ''The James Plays'', 2014
Works
Plays
* ''The Bang and the Whimper'', 1982
* ''The Salesman'', 1982
* ''Fugue'', 1983
* ''Bus'', 1984
* ''Touchwood'', 1984
* ''Ghost Story'', 1985
* ''Piper's Cave'', 1985
* ''Watching Waiters'', 1985
* ''Biggest Party in the World'', 1986
* ''Dust And Dreams'', 1986
* ''The Way To Go Home'', 1987
* ''Winners'', 1987
* ''Off The Road'', 1988
* ''Long Story Short'', 1989
* ''Saturday at the Commodore'', 1989
* ''Bold Girls'', 1990
* ''Scotland Matters'', 1992
* ''Your Turn To Clean The Stair'', 1992
* ''Haunted'', 1999
*
* ''Snake'', 1999
*
* ''Stick Granny on the Roofrack'', 2002
* ''Gilt'', 2003
* ''Catch A Falling Star!'', 2004
* ''Women on the Verge of a T Junction'', 2004
* ''Indian Boy'', 2006
* ''Long Time Dead'', 2006
* ''The Maiden Stone'', 2006
* ''Mary Barton'', 2006
* ''Strawberries in January'', (translation) 2006
* ''Watership Down'', 2006
* ''Dirt Under The Carpet'', 2007
*''
The Last Witch
Janet Horne (died 1727) was the last person to be executed legally for witchcraft in the British Isles.
Horne and her daughter were arrested in Dornoch in Sutherland and imprisoned on the accusations of her neighbours. Horne was showing signs o ...
'', 2009
* ''Little Eagles'', 2011
*''The Astronaut's Chair'', 2012
* ''Donny's Brain'', 2012
* ''The James Plays'', 2014
* ''
Scuttlers
Scuttlers were members of neighbourhood-based youth gangs (known as scuttling gangs) formed in working class areas of Manchester, Salford, and the surrounding townships during the late 19th century. It is possible to draw parallels with th ...
'', 2015
* ''
Rebus: Long Shadows'', 2018'
*''
My Name Is Lucy Barton
''My Name is Lucy Barton'' is a 2016 ''New York Times'' bestselling novel and the fifth novel by the American writer Elizabeth Strout. The book was first published in the United States on January 12, 2016 through Random House. The book details t ...
'', 2018
*''Mary Shelley's Frankenstein'', 2019
*''James IV - Queen of the Fight'', based on the life of the courtier
Ellen More
Ellen or Elen More () was an African servant at the Scottish royal court. There are records of clothing and gifts given to her, although her roles and status are unclear. Some recent scholarship suggests she was enslaved. She is associated with a ...
for performance in 2022.
Screen
* ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'', "
Survival
Survival, or the act of surviving, is the propensity of something to continue existing, particularly when this is done despite conditions that might kill or destroy it. The concept can be applied to humans and other living things (or, hypotheti ...
" (1989)
*''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'', Say It with Flowers (1990)
*''
Ladybird, Ladybird'' (1994)
*''
Aimée & Jaguar
''Aimée & Jaguar'' is a 1999 German drama film set in Berlin during World War II. It was written and directed by Max Färberböck and based on Erica Fischer's book chronicling the actual lives of Lilly Wust and Felice Schragenheim during tha ...
'' (1999)
*''
Oranges and Sunshine
''Oranges and Sunshine'' is a 2010 Australian drama film directed by Jim Loach as his directorial debut. It stars Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham, with a screenplay by Rona Munro, based on the 1994 book ''Empty Cradles'' by Margaret Hu ...
'' (2010)
* ''Doctor Who'', "
The Eaters of Light
"The Eaters of Light" is the tenth episode of the tenth series of the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. It was written by Rona Munro and broadcast on 17 June 2017 on BBC One. Munro previously wrote ''Survival'', the fina ...
" (2017)
References
External links
*
Biography of Rona Munro at On TargetInterviewinterview preceding Edinburgh festival 2009.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munro, Rona
1959 births
Living people
People from Aberdeen
Writers from Edinburgh
Scottish dramatists and playwrights
Scottish television writers
Scottish women dramatists and playwrights
British women screenwriters
British women television writers
20th-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights
21st-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights
20th-century Scottish women writers
21st-century Scottish writers
21st-century Scottish women writers
Scottish radio writers
Women radio writers