Nancy Harris is an Irish playwright and screenwriter. She was given the

Rooney Prize for Irish Literature The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature was created in 1976 by the Irish American businessman Dan Rooney, owner and chairman of the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers franchise and former US Ambassador to Ireland. The prize is awarded to Irish writers aged ...

in 2012.

Early life and education

Harris is the daughter of

Anne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

and

Eoghan Harris Eoghan Harris (born 13 March 1943) is an Irish journalist, columnist, director, and former politician. He has held posts in various and diverse political parties. He was a leading theoretician in the Marxist-Leninist Workers' Party of Ireland, p ...

. She was educated at Trinity College Dublin, earning a B.A. in Drama Studies and Classical Civilization, and the

University of Birmingham , mottoeng = Through efforts to heights , established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...

, where she completed an M.Phil. in Playwriting Studies (a course founded by playwright David Edgar) in the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts.

Career

She was awarded The Stewart Parker Award 2012 for her first original full-length play ''No Romance'' which premiered at The

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the p ...

in Dublin. The play was also nominated for an

Irish Times Theatre Award The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards recognise outstanding achievements in Irish theatre. History The awards were founded in 1997 by ''The Irish Times''. Awards were established in numerous categories, ranging from design, to acting, to overall ...

, a Zebbie Award and was a finalist for The

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 ...

in 2012. Her play ''Our New Girl'', premiered at The

Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers. The Bush Theatre strives to create a s ...

London and was long-listed for an Evening Standard 'Most Promising Playwright Award' in 2013. In December 2017, Dublin's

Gate Theatre The Gate Theatre is a theatre on Cavendish Row in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1928. History Beginnings The Gate Theatre was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir with Daisy Bannard Cogley and Gearóid Ó Lochlai ...

presented Harris' unique spin on a classic fairytale, about the challenges of reimagining ''The Red Shoes'' for a new generation. Harris had two commissioned plays opening in September 2019: ''The Beacon'' for

Druid Theatre The Druid Theatre Company, referred to as Druid, is an Irish theatre company, based in Galway, Ireland. As well as touring extensively across Ireland, the company's productions have played internationally to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the ...

which premiered at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway before transferring to the

, Dublin in October and ''Two Ladies'' for The Bridge theatre, starring Zoë Wanamaker and

Zrinka Cvitešić Zrinka Cvitešić (born 18 July 1979) is a Croatian film, television and theatre actress. Biography The elder of two daughters, Zrinka Cvitešić was born in Karlovac, in the Karlovac County to Ivan and Višnja Cvitešić. Her mother played or ...

. Harris wrote the stage musical adaptation of ''

The Magician's Elephant ''The Magician's Elephant'' is the thirteenth book written by American author Kate DiCamillo. It was released on September 8, 2009, and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Synopsis Peter Augustus Duchene has many questions, but there is one he wishes ...

'' (based on

Kate DiCamillo Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American children's fiction author. She has published over 25 novels, including '' Because of Winn-Dixie'', ''The Tiger Rising'', ''The Tale of Despereaux'', ''The Miraculous Journey ...

's novel) with Marc Teitler for 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 ...

Having been delayed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled to premiere in winter 2021. On television, she was BAFTA nominated for her episodes of the Channel 4 series '' Dates'' and contributed scripts for ''

Secret Diary of a Call Girl ''Secret Diary of a Call Girl'' is a British drama television series that aired from 27 September 2007 to 22 March 2011 on ITV2, based on the blog and books by the pseudonymous Belle de Jour. It stars Billie Piper as Belle, a high-end London ...

'', ''

The Good Karma Hospital ''The Good Karma Hospital'' is a medical drama series produced by Tiger Aspect Productions for ITV about a disillusioned doctor, Ruby Walker, who travels to South India hoping to make a fresh start. It stars Amanda Redman, Amrita Acharia, Ja ...

'' and the epic miniseries '' Troy: Fall of a City''. She is the screenwriter for '' The Dry'', a comedy about a party girl returning home to Ireland to a troubled family.

Personal life

Harris lives in London. She is married to Ghanaian scientist ,Kwasi Agyei-Owusu.

References

External links

*
From the Archive: Bushgreen Meets Nancy Harris

Stewart Parker Trust Award Wins for Nancy Harris, Stacey Gregg and Paul Mercier

Irish Theatre Magazine review of ''No Romance''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Nancy Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Alumni of the University of Birmingham Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Irish dramatists and playwrights 21st-century Irish writers Irish women dramatists and playwrights Women television writers Irish television writers 21st-century Irish women writers 21st-century Irish screenwriters