JAMES McDERMOTT (Theatre, TV, Poetry) is an East Anglia-based writer, teacher, and dramaturg.
For the stage, 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 a creative writing lecturer at the University of East Anglia 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)
