John Retallack
John Retallack (born 1950) is a British playwright and director.
He studied at St Paul's School in London (1963–68) and later at St Paul's College of Education, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where he took the Double English course (aimed at future secondary school English teachers) for his C.Ed. qualification (awarded summer 1973), and English and Education for his B.Ed. (awarded summer 1974). At St Paul's he was already active in the arts, organising a number of literary events during his stay.
He is the author of twelve plays for young people and has adapted numerous texts for the stage and for radio.
Oberon Books publish four of his plays for Company of Angels (Hannah & Hanna, Risk, Club Asylum and Virgins). Methuen publish Sweetpeter. His plays have been translated and published in several languages and are performed in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Holland and France.
He was the founding director of ATC Theatre (1977–85) which continues today as a National Portfolio client of the Arts Council of England.
John was formerly director of Oldham Coliseum Theatre (1985–88) and Oxford Stage Company (1989–99) where his adaptation of Melvin Burgess’s Junk won the TMA Young People’s Award in 1998. His Shakespeare productions for Oxford Stage Company toured internationally and won widespread critical acclaim over a period of ten years.
From 2001- 2011 he was the founding director of Company of Angels, now operating under the name Boundless Theatre, which produces new and experimental work for young audiences and continues today as a National Portfolio client of the Arts Council of England.
From 2010 - 2013, he was Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic where he remains Artistic Associate.
In 2013, he became Tutor in Writing for Performance at Ruskin College in Oxford.
In 2015, he will revive his 2014 production of DIDO & AENEAS for Bristol Old Vic/English Concert and spend two months with the 'reseau europeen des centres culturels de rencontre' at La Chartreuse de Neuville in France researching a play about the current plight of refugees in Calais.
Early adaptations for ATC
1978 - 80 Don Juan (adaptation from Byron’s poem) ATC National tour Edinburgh Festival Avignon Festival Fringe First Award International tour with British Council
1981 - 83 Don Quixote parts 1 & 2 with Richard Curtis (adaptation from the novel) ATC National Tour Edinburgh Festival Almeida & Donmar Warehouse Olivier Award International tour with British Council to over 20 countries including New York
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