Nick Grosso Explained

Nick Grosso is a British playwright, born in London in 1968 to Argentine parents of Italian and Russian extraction.[1] His style has been described as that of a "latter-day Oscar Wilde on speed" by Sheridan Morley.[2]

Career

In 1993, Grosso's monologue Mama Don't was produced by the Royal Court Young People's Theatre and put on at the Commonwealth Institute, London. It was directed by Roxanna Silbert.

A year later, his first stage play, Peaches, was produced by the Royal Court Theatre in association with the Royal National Theatre Studio and put on at the Royal Court Theatre, London. It starred Ben Chaplin.[3] According to Michael Billington, the season in which Peaches appeared (which also included Blasted by Sarah Kane) defined the historical importance of the Theatre Upstairs, a season of new writing masterminded by Stephen Daldry.[4]

In 1996, Grosso's second stage play, Sweetheart, was produced by the Royal Court Theatre and put on at the Royal Court Theatre, London, before embarking on a regional tour. It starred Kate Beckinsale.[5]

In 1998, Grosso's third stage play, Real Classy Affair, was produced by the Royal Court Theatre and put on at the Ambassadors Theatre, London. It starred Joseph Fiennes and Nick Moran.[6] [7]

In 2000, Matthew Rhys played the lead role in Peaches, the film of the play written, it was also directed by Grosso.[8] [9]

His fourth stage play, Kosher Harry, was produced by the Royal Court Theatre and put on at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2002. It was directed by Kathy Burke and starred Martin Freeman.[10] [11]

Since then, the Hampstead Theatre in London has produced and put on three young people's plays by Grosso.

In 2004, Grosso directed his monologue Killing Paul McCartney at the Assembly Rooms at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was produced by David Johnson and performed by Jake Wood.[12] [13] [14]

The same year, Grosso was invited to participate in the inaugural 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic Theatre, London, hosted by artistic director Kevin Spacey.[15]

In 2005, Grosso wrote A Play in Swedish English And Italian for the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, produced by Elverket.[16]

Grosso's plays have received further productions in theatres such as the Salisbury Playhouse, other European countries,[17] and American cities including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.[18]

Critical response

Grosso's work and role in contemporary theatre has been analysed in books such as State of Play by David Edgar (Faber and Faber, November 1999), In-Yer-Face Theatre by Aleks Sierz,[19] and The Full Room by Dominic Dromgoole.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Big Interviews . 22 November 2008 . Imogen Edwards Jones . The Times . 2 January 1999 .
  2. Web site: A Very Glossy Classy Affair . 22 November 2008 . Sheridan Morley . The New York Times . 4 November 1998 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605000407/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/04/style/04iht-lon.t.html . 5 June 2011 .
  3. Web site: Edward Albee: A Revenger's Tragedy . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre--edward-albee-a-revengers-tragedy-1439916.html . 20 June 2022 . subscription . live . 22 November 2008 . Irving Wardle . The Independent . 20 November 1994 .
  4. Web site: The Royal Court Upstairs marks 40 years of scaling new heights . 22 November 2008 . Michael Billington . The Guardian . 21 July 2009 .
  5. Web site: Theatre Sweetheart Royal Court, London . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-sweetheart-royal-court-london-1317556.html . 20 June 2022 . subscription . live . 22 November 2008 . Paul Taylor . The Independent . 6 February 1996 .
  6. Web site: First Night: The proof that lads' culture can be classy . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/first-night-the-proof-that-lads-culture-can-be-classy-1179424.html . 20 June 2022 . subscription . live . 22 November 2008 . Paul Taylor . The Independent . 20 October 1998 .
  7. Web site: Reviews of Past Productions . 22 November 2008 . The Times, The Sunday Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040406114546/http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/reviews/realclassyaffair.html . 6 April 2004 .
  8. News: Peaches. 12 October 2001. Peter . Bradshaw . The Guardian. UK. 13 February 2013.
  9. Web site: PEACHES (2000). rottentomatoes.com. 24 April 2017.
  10. Web site: Kosher Harry . 22 November 2008 . Nick Grosso . Methuen . 18 April 2002 .
  11. Web site: Reviews . 22 November 2008 . Kate Bassett . The Independent . 28 April 2002 .
  12. Web site: Stand-up by proxy . 22 November 2008 . Maddy Costa . The Guardian . 10 August 2004 .
  13. Web site: Edinburgh Reports . 22 November 2008 . Charles Spencer . The Telegraph . 16 August 2004 .
  14. Web site: Bill Hicks, Slight Return, The Pleasance . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/bill-hicks-slight-return-the-pleasance-558284.html . 20 June 2022 . subscription . live . 22 November 2008 . Julian Hall . The Independent . 30 August 2004 .
  15. Web site: From blank page to stage in 24 hours . 22 November 2008 . Stephen Pile . The Telegraph . 8 June 2004 .
  16. Web site: Sven's complicated private life is played out on Swedish stage . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/svens-complicated-private-life-is-played-out-on-swedish-stage-530236.html . 20 June 2022 . subscription . live . 22 November 2008 . Matthew Beard . The Independent . 9 April 2005 .
  17. Web site: Os Pessegos . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/DhRVcGDZQa0 . 2021-12-15 . live. 22 November 2008 . YouTube . 17 April 2008 .
  18. Web site: Alter Egos With Different Languages . 22 November 2008 . Neil Genzlinger . The New York Times . 22 October 2007 .
  19. Web site: In-Yer-Face Theatre . 22 November 2008 . Aleks Sierz . Faber and Faber . 5 March 2001 .
  20. Web site: The Full Room . 22 November 2008 . Dominic Dromgoole . Methuen . 9 May 2002 .

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