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Chris Ward (playwright)

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This article is about the playwright. For other people named Chris Ward, see Chris Ward (disambiguation).
Chris Ward in 2015

Chris Ward (born 1958) is an English-Canadian film and theatre director and playwright. From 1979 to 1982, he attended the London International Film School. His play Demonstration of Affection was produced at the Arts Theatre in 1981, starring Richard Jobson of The Skids.

From 1982 until 1996, he produced and directed his own work for Wet Paint Theatre Company, in various fringe and pub theatre venues in London, as well as performing dramatic scenes at punk concerts.[1] The company, self-described as "punk theatre",[2][3] was distinguished by its mixing of professionally-trained actors with musicians (often from punk bands) and non-professional artistes.[1] Amongst the performers who passed through the ranks of Wet Paint were, Simon Tedd (Simon Scardanelli), Honey Bane, Beki Bondage, Max Splodge, Michelle Brigandage, George Cheex from !Action Pact! Ruth Radish ( from punk band 'Hagar the Womb) and Jenny Runacre.

His play about Jean Vigo, Love's A Revolution, was the basis of the 1998 film Vigo, directed by Julien Temple.[4] Previously, Ward had collaborated with Derek Jarman on a number of unrealised film projects, including a film of Ward's play Camberwell Beauty and a proposed television project on the life of Jean Cocteau.[5]

Plastic Zion was revived at the White Bear Theatre in London in 2006.[6]

In 2008 Ward wrote and directed the short film What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor (based on the life of artist/model Nina Hamnett, self-styled Queen of Bohemia starring Siobhan Fahey (singer with Bananarama and Shakespears Sister), the actor Clive Arrindel, Donny Tourette (frontman with the punk band Towers of London) and Honey Bane (former vocalist of the punk band Fatal Microbes). The same year saw a revival of Demonstration of Affection at The Foundry in London. In 2012, his film script, Visions in the Life of the Victorian poet Francis Thompson 'Hound' was staged at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith. The following year, 2013, he wrote and directed a feature film produced by Frank Schofield based on his play Camberwell Beauty with the performers Jenny Runacre, Rachel Darq, Clive Arrindell, and Lindsay Armaou from the girl band B*witched taking major roles. This was released in 2014. In 2012, Chris Ward's film script, Visions in the Life of the Victorian poet Francis Thompson 'Hound' was staged at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, and following that the stage version was taken on a tour of London's churches including St Giles-in-the Fields and in St Olav's (City of London) in May 2014.[7] The Film of 'HOUND' is now in production with a cast including Wayne Sleep, Gary Shail, Toyah Willcox, Hazel O'Connor and Lex Stephenson. The role of Francis Thompson is played by Daniel Hutchinson.[8]

Plays

  • Vermouth (Pentameters Theatre, 1980)
  • Demonstration of Affection (Cockpit/Arts Theatre, 1981)
  • Castles in Spain (New End Theatre, 1981)
  • Plastic Zion (Wet Paint, 1982)
  • Camberwell Beauty (Wet Paint, 1982)
  • Love's A Revolution, the life of Jean Vigo (Wet Paint, 1983)
  • Amphibious Babies (Wet Paint, 1983)
  • Cat Food (Wet Paint, 1984)
  • Planet Suicide (Wet Paint, 1985)
  • Furious Holiday (Wet Paint, 1987)
  • Gods Drumming (Wet Paint, 1994)
  • Ethel Lee and Grabs (Wet Paint, 1996)
  • HOUND Visions in the Life of the Victorian poet Francis Thompson (Wet Paint, 2012)

Films

  • Vosper's Boys (1981)
  • What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor (2008)[9]
  • Camberwell Beauty (2013)

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Roy Robert (19 June 1986). "Show People: Never staying around long enough for the paint to dry". The Stage. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  2. ^ Lyne, Paul (February 1987). "Wet Paint Theatre". Maximumrocknroll. 45: 56. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Wet Paint Theatre Company". Fade to Black: 4. 1984. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  4. ^ Vigo: Passion for Life
  5. ^ il Cinema di Derek Jarman: Progetti Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Plastic Zion, White Bear Theatre, 2006 Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/24685
  8. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvthQF7ZiZM&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1l9nsX-e6TwEXUoeF1ADa1jTGmWmhBXE23dd9wiriS2IRsdEprXuncI_w
  9. ^ "Tenby Museum & Art Gallery » What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor? premieres at Tenby Museum". tenbymuseum.org.
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