Alex Oates Explained

Alex Oates (born 1987 in Newcastle) is an English playwright[1] [2] from the North East.

Background

Born in Newcastle, Oates was born to a nurse and policeman and raised in Whitley Bay in the North East of England. He moved to London to attend Middlesex University in 2006 where he studied Theatre Arts. Oates also studied for a semester at New Paltz where he specialised in dramatic writing under Prof. Laurence Carr.[3]

On graduating Oates was selected to write for [4] [5] and spent time in the story department at EastEnders. Oates was later selected out of thousands for the 2010 Old Vic New Voices 24 hour plays[6] [7] [8] which sparked his career in theatre.

Career

Oates first play Fan Fiction was produced as a reading at the St. James Theatre directed by Dominic Shaw and starring Iwan Rheon, Russell Tovey and Rebecca Ryan.[9]

Oates then wrote Silk Road for the Edinburgh Fringe (Assembly). Silk Road tackles the issue of buying drugs online and was the first play funded by the digital currency Bitcoin,[10] [11] [12] [13] it starred James Baxter[14] and was directed by Dominic Shaw.

Oates next play Pig was produced by Silent Uproar productions for Hull Truck Theatre July 2015[15] and later transferred to the New Diorama Theatre in September 2015.[16] Pig was based on extensive research and interviews with police officers and was about the state of the British police force.

Oates has collaborated with actress Katie Sheridan to create new online romantic comedy, Match Not Found[17] launched October 2015. Oates is also a recipient of the prestigious Peggy Ramsay Legacy grant.

Oates play All In a Row was long listed for the Bruntwood Prize in 2016 and a revised version won the Bolton Octagon's Top Five competition, being selected from 850 plays to receive a rehearsed reading in March 2017.[18]

Following the boom in price of Bitcoin Silk Road was revived for Vault Festival London and Live Theatre Newcastle starring Josh Barrow. To mark the production it was published by Bloomsbury Methuen

Silk Road transferred into the West End in August 2018 where The Times four star review described it as "Sharp witted, effortlessly engaging and surprisingly sweet".[19]

Oates next play All In A Row proved controversial at Southwark Playhouse for its use of puppetry and brutal take on the themes of severe autism. The Guardian's four star review described it as "a lively, compassionate and darkly humorous show with the unmistakable ring of truth". Oates was nominated for Most Promising Playwright at The Off West End Awards for the play.

In 2023 Oates was awarded a Peter Schaffer commission by the Royal National Theatre to write a large scale play for Northern Stage. Oates began collaborating with filmmaker Andy Berriman and received the inaugural Northern Film Prize award for their short film 'Mortal'.[20] His play 'The Filleting App', which explores food delivery driving and living on the poverty line was selected by the RSC for the 37 Plays Project.[21]

Plays

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The unmistakably cool Alex Oates. 18 February 2017.
  2. Web site: Alex Oates - John Fleming's blog - SO IT GOES. 18 February 2017.
  3. Web site: SUNY New Paltz: Department of English . 7 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151024045611/http://www.newpaltz.edu/english/faculty.html . 24 October 2015 . dead . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: EastEnders: E20 - Alex Oates. BBC. 18 February 2017.
  5. Web site: EastEnders: E20 - Episode 1 - watch the full episode video. BBC. 18 February 2017.
  6. Web site: Review: Old Vic New Voices 24 Hour Plays 2011 . 25 October 2011. A Younger Theatre. 18 February 2017.
  7. http://blogs.new.spectator.co.uk/2011/11/24hour-play-people/{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  8. Web site: The 24 Hour Plays: OVNV - winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002151344/http://www.ideastap.com/IdeasMag/all-articles/24-hour-plays-2011-winners. dead. 2 October 2011. 18 February 2017.
  9. Web site: FAN FICTION . Alex Oates. 18 February 2017.
  10. Web site: Silk Road, the play, scheduled to open this summer in London, Edinburgh. 18 February 2017. June 2014.
  11. Web site: There is now a play about Silk Road. . 21 July 2014. 18 February 2017.
  12. Web site: Silk Road: The Play. 26 May 2014. 18 February 2017.
  13. Web site: Silk Road play aiming to be first funded by Bitcoin. 28 May 2014 . 18 February 2017.
  14. Web site: James Baxter on Silk Road the Play.. Emily . Hubert. 15 June 2014. 18 February 2017. YouTube.
  15. News: Pig - comic police drama at Hull Truck. 7 July 2015. Hull Daily Mail. 18 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810232124/http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Pig-comic-police-drama-Hull-Truck/story-26850435-detail/story.html. 10 August 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  16. Web site: Rising Hull theatre company take to the London stage. ITV. 18 February 2017.
  17. Web site: Skype Series 'Match Not Found' To Premiere in October. 18 February 2017.
  18. Web site: Top 5 scripts chosen out of 800 entries for theatre stage. This Is Lancashire. 31 January 2017 . en. 9 February 2017.
  19. News: Theatre review: Silk Road at Trafalgar Studios, SW1. Marlowe. Sam. 2018-08-09. The Times. 2018-08-23. en. 0140-0460.
  20. https://www.colourpr.com/post/northern-film-prize-the-winners#:~:text=Andy%20Berriman%20and%20Alex%20Oates,to%20reminisce%20on%20the%20past.
  21. https://37plays.co.uk/

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