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| notableworks = ''[[Debris (play)|Debris]]''(2003)<br />''[[Love and Money (play)|Love and Money]]'' (2006)<br />''[[Osama the Hero]]'' (2005) <br />''DNA''(2007) <br />''[[Orphans (Dennis Kelly play)|Orphans]]'' (2009)<br />''[[Matilda (musical)|Matilda, A Musical]]'' (2010)
| notableworks = ''[[Debris (play)|Debris]]''(2003)<br />''[[Love and Money (play)|Love and Money]]'' (2006)<br />''[[Osama the Hero]]'' (2005) <br />''DNA''(2007) <br />''[[Orphans (Dennis Kelly play)|Orphans]]'' (2009)<br />''[[Matilda (musical)|Matilda, A Musical]]'' (2010)
| influences = [[Caryl Churchill]]
| influences = [[Caryl Churchill]]
| influenced = [[Anya Reiss]]
| influenced = }}
⚫
}}


'''Dennis Kelly''' (born 1970 in [[Barnet]], London) is a London-based writer for both the theatre and television. Oberon plays have published a volume of Dennis Kelly Plays; ''[[Debris (play)|Debris]]'', ''[[After the End]]'', ''[[Osama the Hero]]'' and ''[[Love and Money (play)|Love and Money]]''. In television he is best known for his work on [[BBC Three]]'s sitcom ''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]]''.
'''Dennis Kelly''' (born 1970 in [[Barnet]], London) is a London-based writer for both the theatre and television. He is perhaps best known for co-writing [[BBC Three]]'s sitcom ''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]]'' with the actress [[Sharon Horgan]] and for co-writing the hit musical ''[[Matilda the Musical]]'' with comedian [[Tim Minchin]].


==Biography==
==Early Life==
Kelly grew up in [[Barnet]], North London, in an Irish family and was brought up a Catholic. His father was a bus conductor, and Kelly, one of five children, left school at 16.
Kelly grew up in a council estate in [[Barnet]], North London, in an Irish family and was brought up a Catholic. His father was a bus conductor, and Kelly, one of five children, left school at 16 to work in [[Sainsburys]].


⚫
While working in supermarkets, he discovered theatre when he joined a local youth group, the Barnet Drama Centre. " He then took a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts when he was 30 and received a first from [[Goldsmiths College]], London.
Brought up on a council estate he said ''"There is a theatre version of a council estate, and it doesn't look like any council estate I've ever been on. Council estates are really diverse, especially in London. You get all sorts of people. Working-class people have the same vocabulary as anyone else. Some read the Guardian, some read the Sun, some read the Telegraph."'' About growing up on a council estate Kelly has said; <blockquote>
"A couple of years ago, when I was starting out as a playwright, I had a meeting with an artistic director about a play I had just written, ''Fifty-Three Million Miles''. It was set partly on a council estate, partly in a Nasa interview room, and partly in a living pod on the surface of Mars. "You do good council estate," the artistic director told me. "Stick to council estate."
I was a little taken aback, but I took a deep breath and told him that although, yes, I'd grown up in a council house, I didn't feel that it was necessarily all there was to me, and that there were many things I was interested in talking about.."</blockquote>


==Work==
⚫
While working in supermarkets, he discovered theatre when he joined a local youth group, the Barnet Drama Centre. " He then took a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts and received a first from [[Goldsmiths College]], London. He wrote his first play ''[[Debris]]'' when he was 30.
Kelly's first play ''[[Debris]]'' he wrote when he was 30, he says he wrote it imagining he'd give himself a part. Staged at [[Theatre 503]] in 2003 it transferred the next year to [[Battersea Arts Centre]]. It was well recieved and he went on to write th controversially titled ''[[Osama the Hero]]'' which was produced by [[Hampstead Theatre]] beginning a long relationship with the theatre that he would return to often.


''[[After the End]]'' he wrote in 2005 and produced by [[Paines Plough]] in his first out of London production at [[Traverse Theatre|Traverse]] though it later came to the [[Bush Theatre]] before going on a tour of the UK and internationally in 2006.
His plays include ''[[Debris (play)|Debris]]'' ([[Theatre 503]], 2003/ [[Battersea Arts Centre]], 2004), ''[[Osama the Hero]]'' ([[Hampstead Theatre]], 2005), ''[[After the End]]'' produced by [[Paines Plough]] at the [[Traverse Theatre|Traverse]]/ [[Bush Theatre]], 2005/ UK and international tour 2006), ''[[Love and Money (play)|Love and Money]]'' ([[Royal Exchange, Manchester]] and [[Young Vic]], 2006) and ''Taking Care of Baby'' ([[Hampstead Theatre]], 2007). In 2007 he also wrote ''DeoxyriboNucleic Acid'', written for the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] Connections Festival in 2007. His most recent play ''[[Orphans (Dennis Kelly play)|Orphans]]'' was staged in 2009 at the [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]] and transferred to [[Traverse Theatre]] in Edinburgh in August 2009 as part of the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]].


''[[Love and Money (play)|Love and Money]]'', arguably one of his most famous plays was ataged at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester]] and then at the [[Young Vic]] in 2006. That same year his sitcom ''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]]''<ref>{{citation
⚫
His work has been produced in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, The Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Australia, Japan, the United States, Belgium, Romania and Canada. Other work includes translations of Péter Kárpáti’s ''The Fourth Gate'' ([[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] Studio) and ''The Colony'', a radio play which won Best European Radio Drama at the Prix Europa, 2004.
|title = Pulling
| work=BBC
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/pulling/index.shtml
| date =
}}</ref> co-written and starring [[Sharon Horgan]] on [[BBC Three]]. It recieved good ratings for the channel and was well reviewed being nominated for a [[BAFTA TV Award]] for Best Situation Comedy in 2007.


Returning to theatre and the [[Hampstead Theatre]] in 2007 his fake [[verbatim theatre|verbatim play]] ''Taking Care of Baby'' which was another success for both writer and theatre.
He also co-wrote the [[BBC Three]] sitcom, ''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]]'' with writer/actress [[Sharon Horgan]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/pulling/index.shtml Pulling] at [[BBC.co.uk]]</ref>

For the 2007 [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] Connections Festival he wrote ''DeoxyriboNucleic Acid'' (better known by the title ''DNA'') which after the connectiosn recieved a profesional production alongside ''The Miracle'' by [[Lin Coghlan]] and ''Baby Girl'' by [[Roy Williams]] at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] in the Cottesloe<ref>{{citation
|title = DNA
| work=National Theatre
| url = http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/31801/productions/baby-girl-dna-the-miracle.html | date = 2008
}}</ref>
. The play is now used widely in schools and is on several curriculums for [[GCSE]] drama.

The second series of [[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]] ran in 2008 and won a [[British Comedy Award]] however the series was not renewed for a third series however in 2009 an hour long special closed the series. That same year he also wrote an episode for Series 8 of [[Spooks]].

In 2009 his play ''[[Orphans (Dennis Kelly play)|Orphans]]'' was staged at the [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]] before transfering to the [[Traverse Theatre]] in Edinburgh as part of the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]].


Kelly was one of the ten writers who took part in writing [[monologues]] based on a children's account for a one off event at the [[Old Vic Theatre]] directed by [[Danny Boyle]] in London in support of [[Dramatic Need]] in 2010. His three monologues were performed by [[Ben Kingsley]], [[Jenny Jules]] and [[Charlie Cox]].<ref>{{citation
Kelly was one of the ten writers who took part in writing [[monologues]] based on a children's account for a one off event at the [[Old Vic Theatre]] directed by [[Danny Boyle]] in London in support of [[Dramatic Need]] in 2010. His three monologues were performed by [[Ben Kingsley]], [[Jenny Jules]] and [[Charlie Cox]].<ref>{{citation
Line 38: Line 52:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


In 2010 Kelly returned to the [[Hampstead Theatre]] once more for his response to [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare's]] [[King Lear]] ''The Gods Weep'' starring [[Jeremy Irons]] however reviews were mixed. His next theatrical venture however faired much better, his musical version of [[Roald Dahl]]'s [[Matilda]] co-written with comedian [[Tim Minchin]] was a hit at the [[RSC]] in 2011. It transferred to the West End and has won several awards including Best Musical at the [[Evening Standard Awards]], [[Critics Circle]] and Theatre Awards.
==Common themes==

Consistent traits in Kelly's work are strong women, violence, fantasy and flexible identities. For ''DNA'' Kelly said in an interview
⚫
His work has been produced in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, The Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Australia, Japan, the United States, Belgium, Romania and Canada. Other work includes translations of Péter Kárpáti’s ''The Fourth Gate'' ([[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] Studio) and ''The Colony'', a radio play which won Best European Radio Drama at the Prix Europa, 2004.
<blockquote>
''This concept of a flexible identity was something I wanted to explore in a play. DNA was originally written for the National Theatre's Connections project, which pairs young actors with new writing. It was to be performed by more than 40 different youth groups across the country, and when I wrote it, I stipulated that all the characters' genders and names could be changed according to the groups' needs. John could become Jane, or Leah could become Lee. I reasoned that there isn't the huge gap between men and women that we like to think there is. We are different, yes, but our similarities far outweigh our differences. One quite angry youth leader took me to task over this, insisting that girls and boys were practically different species, and this could never work. But the interesting thing was that, with all the different cast configurations I went on to see, I forgot the original sex of the character I'd written within 10 minutes.''<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/feb/28/theatre.television |location=London |work=The Guardian | first=Dennis | last=Kelly | title=Identity crisis | date=28 February 2008}}</ref>
</blockquote>


==Theatre work==
==Theatre work==
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==Television work==
==Television work==
*'''[[Sppoks]]''' BBC Series 8
*'''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]] ''' for BBC Three co written with [[Sharon Horgan]]
*'''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]] ''' for BBC Three co written with [[Sharon Horgan]]


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Despite very good reviews and good ratings ''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]]'' was cancelled in 2007. The decision by the [[BBC]] was much criticised and Kelly and [[Sharon Horgan|Horgan]] claimed to have cried and threw themselves at their feet over the decision. Most striking about Pulling is its lack of a moral centre. In an interview with [[The Guardian]] Horgan said'' "I guess there isn't a moral centre because Dennis and I don't have one." ''Kelly then said ''"That's scary. Fuck. We need to get a moral centre. Shit. It's really true. But we do try to make sure we don't get nasty for the sake of it. We make sure there's a bit of heart. " ''<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/may/16/pulling-sharon-horgan-dennis-kelly |location=London |work=The Guardian | first=Amy | last=Raphael | title=There's no moral centre to Pulling because we don't have one! | date=16 May 2009}}</ref>
Despite very good reviews and good ratings ''[[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]]'' was cancelled in 2007. The decision by the [[BBC]] was much criticised and Kelly and [[Sharon Horgan|Horgan]] claimed to have cried and threw themselves at their feet over the decision. Most striking about Pulling is its lack of a moral centre. In an interview with [[The Guardian]] Horgan said'' "I guess there isn't a moral centre because Dennis and I don't have one." ''Kelly then said ''"That's scary. Fuck. We need to get a moral centre. Shit. It's really true. But we do try to make sure we don't get nasty for the sake of it. We make sure there's a bit of heart. " ''<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/may/16/pulling-sharon-horgan-dennis-kelly |location=London |work=The Guardian | first=Amy | last=Raphael | title=There's no moral centre to Pulling because we don't have one! | date=16 May 2009}}</ref>


==Awards==
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="20%"| Award Ceremony
! width="40%"| Category
! width="20%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| 2011 || [[Evening Standard Awards]] || Best Musical || [[Matilda the Musical]] || Won
|-
| 2011 || [[Critics Circle Award]] || Best Musical || [[Matilda the Musical]] || Won
|-
| 2011 || [[London Theatre Award]] || Best Musical || [[Matilda the Musical]] || Won
|-
| 2011 || [[TMA]] || Best Musical || [[Matilda the Musical]] || Won
|-
| 2009 || [[Edinburgh Festival]] || The Fringe First || [[Orphans (play)|Orphans]] || Won
|-
| 2009 || [[Edinburgh Festival]] || Herald Angel || [[Orphans (play)|Orphans]] || Won
|-
| 2009 || [[British Comedy Award]] || Best Television Comedy || [[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]] || Won
|-
| 2007 || [[TMA]] || Best New Play || Taking Care of Baby || Nominated
|-
| 2007 || [[Laurence Olivier Awards]] || Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre || [[Love and Money]] || Nominated
|-
| 2007 || [[BAFTA TV Award]] || Best Situation Comedy || [[Pulling (TV series)|Pulling]] || Nominated
⚫
|}
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 13:38, 31 January 2012

Dennis Kelly
Born1970
Barnet, London, England
OccupationPlaywright, Television Scriptwriter
NationalityBritish
Notable worksDebris(2003)
Love and Money (2006)
Osama the Hero (2005)
DNA(2007)
Orphans (2009)
Matilda, A Musical (2010)

Dennis Kelly (born 1970 in Barnet, London) is a London-based writer for both the theatre and television. He is perhaps best known for co-writing BBC Three's sitcom Pulling with the actress Sharon Horgan and for co-writing the hit musical Matilda the Musical with comedian Tim Minchin.

Early Life

Kelly grew up in a council estate in Barnet, North London, in an Irish family and was brought up a Catholic. His father was a bus conductor, and Kelly, one of five children, left school at 16 to work in Sainsburys.

While working in supermarkets, he discovered theatre when he joined a local youth group, the Barnet Drama Centre. " He then took a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts when he was 30 and received a first from Goldsmiths College, London.

Work

Kelly's first play Debris he wrote when he was 30, he says he wrote it imagining he'd give himself a part. Staged at Theatre 503 in 2003 it transferred the next year to Battersea Arts Centre. It was well recieved and he went on to write th controversially titled Osama the Hero which was produced by Hampstead Theatre beginning a long relationship with the theatre that he would return to often.

After the End he wrote in 2005 and produced by Paines Plough in his first out of London production at Traverse though it later came to the Bush Theatre before going on a tour of the UK and internationally in 2006.

Love and Money, arguably one of his most famous plays was ataged at the Royal Exchange, Manchester and then at the Young Vic in 2006. That same year his sitcom Pulling[1] co-written and starring Sharon Horgan on BBC Three. It recieved good ratings for the channel and was well reviewed being nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Situation Comedy in 2007.

Returning to theatre and the Hampstead Theatre in 2007 his fake verbatim play Taking Care of Baby which was another success for both writer and theatre.

For the 2007 National Theatre Connections Festival he wrote DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (better known by the title DNA) which after the connectiosn recieved a profesional production alongside The Miracle by Lin Coghlan and Baby Girl by Roy Williams at the National Theatre in the Cottesloe[2] . The play is now used widely in schools and is on several curriculums for GCSE drama.

The second series of Pulling ran in 2008 and won a British Comedy Award however the series was not renewed for a third series however in 2009 an hour long special closed the series. That same year he also wrote an episode for Series 8 of Spooks.

In 2009 his play Orphans was staged at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre before transfering to the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Kelly was one of the ten writers who took part in writing monologues based on a children's account for a one off event at the Old Vic Theatre directed by Danny Boyle in London in support of Dramatic Need in 2010. His three monologues were performed by Ben Kingsley, Jenny Jules and Charlie Cox.[3]

In 2010 Kelly returned to the Hampstead Theatre once more for his response to Shakespeare's King Lear The Gods Weep starring Jeremy Irons however reviews were mixed. His next theatrical venture however faired much better, his musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda co-written with comedian Tim Minchin was a hit at the RSC in 2011. It transferred to the West End and has won several awards including Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards, Critics Circle and Theatre Awards.

His work has been produced in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, The Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Australia, Japan, the United States, Belgium, Romania and Canada. Other work includes translations of Péter Kárpáti’s The Fourth Gate (National Theatre Studio) and The Colony, a radio play which won Best European Radio Drama at the Prix Europa, 2004.

Theatre work

Radio work

  • The Colony, 2004

Television work

Pulling

Kelly said that writing for TV and theatre is very unusual as Pulling is a comedy and not theatrical unlike his plays which are serious and often non naturalistic. Kelly said "telling people from the world of TV that I also inhabit the world of theatre is something I've begun to avoid."
Despite very good reviews and good ratings Pulling was cancelled in 2007. The decision by the BBC was much criticised and Kelly and Horgan claimed to have cried and threw themselves at their feet over the decision. Most striking about Pulling is its lack of a moral centre. In an interview with The Guardian Horgan said "I guess there isn't a moral centre because Dennis and I don't have one." Kelly then said "That's scary. Fuck. We need to get a moral centre. Shit. It's really true. But we do try to make sure we don't get nasty for the sake of it. We make sure there's a bit of heart. " [5]

Awards

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2011 Evening Standard Awards Best Musical Matilda the Musical Won
2011 Critics Circle Award Best Musical Matilda the Musical Won
2011 London Theatre Award Best Musical Matilda the Musical Won
2011 TMA Best Musical Matilda the Musical Won
2009 Edinburgh Festival The Fringe First Orphans Won
2009 Edinburgh Festival Herald Angel Orphans Won
2009 British Comedy Award Best Television Comedy Pulling Won
2007 TMA Best New Play Taking Care of Baby Nominated
2007 Laurence Olivier Awards Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Love and Money Nominated
2007 BAFTA TV Award Best Situation Comedy Pulling Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Pulling", BBC
  2. ^ "DNA", National Theatre, 2008
  3. ^ "Dramatic Need", Children's Monologues, November 2010
  4. ^ http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsK/kelly-dennis.html
  5. ^ Raphael, Amy (16 May 2009). "There's no moral centre to Pulling because we don't have one!". The Guardian. London.

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