JAMES McDERMOTT (Theatre, TV, Poetry) is an East Anglia-based writer, teacher, and dramaturg.
For the stage, James’ forthcoming works including WIND IN THE WILLOWS, a promenade adaptation (Sheringham Little Theatre/Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2026), and his new comedy IT COMES IN WAVES touring East Anglia (Seagull Theatre/Eastern Angles).
James’ work has been produced across the UK, including JAB (Finborough Theatre/Park Theatre; nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award for Best New Play, Broadway World UK/West End Award for Best New Production of A Play, and London Pub Theatres Standing Ovation Award); TIME & TIDE (Park Theatre/East of England Tour; nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award for Best New Play; longlisted for the Bruntwood, Papatango & Verity Bargate Playwriting Prizes); RUBBER RING (Pleasance Islington/UK Tour), all published by Concord Theatricals, ROBIN GOOD: THE POLITICO-PANTO (Norwich Playhouse); THE BIRDS & THE BEES (New Wolsey/UK Tour); SHANTY (Sheringham Little Theatre; published by Polari Press), and MORE… GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT (HighTide/Sam Wanamaker Playhouse).
For TV, James has written numerous episodes of EASTENDERS (BBC One).
As a poet, James’ work includes the poem FIZZ, commissioned for Netflix’s HEARTSTOPPER (Series 2, Ep 7), as well as his collections FATHER MYSELF (Nine Arches Press), WILD LIFE (Nine Arches Press; shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Award 2023) and MANATOMY (Burning Eye Books; longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize).
James is an Associate Artist at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, as well as creative writing lecturer at UEA, and an Arvon tutor. He is currently under commission to write a scriptwriting craft handbook for Story Machines’ You Are A Writer series (2025).
‘His eye, tone, language, wit, insights and power of expression are simply magnificent.’ (Stephen Fry)
https://jamesmcdermottwriter.weebly.com
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