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Charles Wood

Writer

‘Prisoner and Escort’ was Charles’s first play based on a duty that occasionally came his way in the army (he had been a regular soldier). Charles wrote it for television.It was first done as a radio play on the Third Programme, then as a stage play as part of a triple bill of his plays at the Arts Theatre under the title ‘Cockade’ (‘Prisoner and Escort’, ‘John Thomas’, ‘Spare’) all directed by Patrick Dromgoole and put on by Michael Codron (Evening Standard Award, 1963).  Eventually, ‘Prisoner and Escort’ reached the medium for which it was first written, when it won a prize for the director, one Phillip Saville.

 

‘Dingo’ was Charles’s first full-length play for the theatre. It was called ‘I Don’t Hold With Heroes’ until the National Theatre (at the Old Vic) decided they wanted to do it and Ken Tynan suggested the title change. In the end he and Olivier gave up trying to get a license for it (regarded as “subversive” by the Lord Chamberlain). At last ‘Dingo’ gets on at Bristol and the Royal Court (turned into a club to avoid the Lord Chamberlain).

 

His play ‘Veterans’ won an Evening Standard Award in 1972. In Charles’s words: “My only real success in the theatre, due to John Gielgud.

 

‘The Knack’ was Charle’s first screenplay, based on Anne Jellicoe’s play. He was asked to do it by Woodfall, in the shape of Oscar Lewenstein. He had seen ‘Cockade’, as had Lindsay Anderson who was the putative director. In the end it was directed by Richard Lester and won the Grand Prix at Cannes. He wrote and rewrote a lot of films for Richard. Among those, which didn’t reach the screen, were ‘Flashman and Petulia’ (not in his version).

 

His Future Projects envolve a stage play about Gallipoli, project with Chris Kelly who is looking into the possibility of a television play about Elgar based on a book about his last years and a young Jewish violinist said to be his last “muse”, project with Tony Palmer who is hoping to get together a film about Maria Callas and a project with Estelle Daniels who is thinking about something to do with ‘Hogarth’ (Charles’s unproduced screenplay ‘Rakewell’).

 

 

Credits

STAGE PLAYS
Date: 1995
Production (role):
THE TOWER
Company:
Almeida
Project details:
Version of the Dumas play

Dir. Howard Davies

Publ. Oberon
Date: 1993
Production (role):
THE MOUNTAIN GIANTS
Company:
NT
Project details:
Version of the unfinished Pirandello play with a new last act

Dir. Bill Gaskill

Publ. Absolute Press
Date: 1989
Production (role):
MAN BEAST AND VIRTUE
Company:
National Theatre
Project details:
Version of the Pirandello play

Dir. Bill Gaskill

Publ. Absolute Press
Date: 1986
Production (role):
ACROSS FROM THE GARDEN OF ALLAH
Company:
Comedy
Project details:
Dir. Ron Daniels

Prod. Duncan Weldon

Starring Glenda Jackson and Nigel Hawthorne

100 performances

Publ. Oberon
Date: 1984
Production (role):
RED STAR
Company:
Barbican RSC
Project details:
Dir. John Caird
Date: 1978
Production (role):
HAS WASHINGTON LEGS?
Company:
National Theatre
Project details:
Dir. Geoffrey Reeves
Date: 1975
Production (role):
JINGO
Company:
Aldwych RSC
Project details:
Dir. Richard Eyre

Publ. Methuen and Oberon
Date: 1971
Production (role):
VETERANS
Company:
Lyceum, Edinburgh / Royal Court
Project details:
Dir. Ronald Eyre

Prods. Michael Codron and Oscar Lewenstein

Starring John Gielgud

Publ. Methuen and Oberon

Evening Standard Award 1972
Date: 1969
Production (role):
H
Company:
National Theatre Old Vic
Project details:
A tale of the Indian Mutiny, about one of the generals in Trafalgar Square

Dir. Geoffrey Reeves

Publ. Methuen and Oberon
Date: 1968
Production (role):
DINGO
Company:
Bristol / Royal Court
Project details:
Full-length play

Dir. Geoffrey Reeves

Publ. Penguin, Methuen and Oberon
Date: 1966
Production (role):
DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH
Company:
Aldwych RSC
Project details:
One act play

Dirs. Trevor Nunn and Peter Hall
Date: 1965
Production (role):
MEALS ON WHEELS
Company:
Royal Court
Project details:
Play

Dir. John Osborne
Production (role):
FILL THE STAGE WITH HAPPY HOURS
Company:
Nottingham / Royal Court / Vaudeville
Project details:
Full-length play

Dir. Bill Gaskill

Prod. Michael Codron

Publ. Penguin and Oberon
Date: 1962
Production (role):
DINGO
Project details:
Full-length play
Date: 1960
Production (role):
PRISONER AND ESCORT
Project details:
Charles's first play

Publ. Penguin
TELEVISION
Date: 2000
Production (role):
MONSIGNOR RENARD “SUMMER 1940”
Company:
ITV
Project details:
Dir. Malcolm Mowbury (Ep. 3)

Prod. Chris Kelly
Date: 1998
Production (role):
KAVANAGH QC
Company:
Carlton
Project details:
“BRIEFS TROOPING GAILY”

Dirs. Jack Gold and Peter Smith

Prod. Chris Kelly
Date: 1997
Production (role):
KAVANAGH QC
Company:
Carlton
Project details:
“MUTE OF MALICE”

Dirs. Jack Gold and Peter Smith

Prod. Chris Kelly
Date: 1997
Production (role):
SHARPE'S WATERLOO
Company:
Carlton
Project details:
Dir. Tom Clegg

Prod. Malcolm Craddock
Date: 1996-97
Production (role):
SHARPE'S REGIMENT
Company:
Carlton
Project details:
Dir. Tom Clegg

Prod. Malcolm Craddock
Date: 1995
Production (role):
ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND
Company:
Ladbroke Films, Channel 4
Project details:
Television play from a version by John Osborne

Dir. Tony Palmer
Date: 1994
Production (role):
SHARPE'S COMPANY
Company:
Carlton
Project details:
Dir. Tom Clegg

Prod. Malcolm Craddock
Date: 1994
Production (role):
A BREED OF HEROES
Company:
BBC
Project details:
'Screen One'

Television play from the book by Alan Judd

Dir. Diurmid Lawrence

Prod. Andree Molyneux
Date: 1988
Production (role):
TUMBLEDOWN
Company:
BBC
Project details:
Single Film

Dir. Richard Eyre

Prod. Richard Broke

BAFTA Best Single Play

RTS Best Single Play

Prix Italia
Date: 1988
Production (role):
INSPECTOR MORSE
Company:
Carlton
Project details:
Dir. Peter Hammond

Prod. Kenny McBain
Date: 1987
Production (role):
MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS
Company:
BBC
Project details:
Prod. Joe Waters
Date: 1984
Production (role):
PUCCINI
Company:
Channel 4
Project details:
Single Film
Date: 1983
Production (role):
WAGNER
Company:
London Trust
Project details:
Dir. Tony Palmer
Date: 1983
Production (role):
RED MONARCH
Company:
Goldcrest
Project details:
Single Film
Date: 1977-79
Production (role):
DON’T FORGET TO WRITE
Company:
BBC
Project details:
Dirs. David Askey, John Bruce and Alan Dossor

Prod. Joe Waters
Date: 1997
Production (role):
LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Company:
YTV
Project details:
ITV Playhouse

Dir. David Cunliffe

Prod. Peter Willes
Date: 1974
Production (role):
DEATH OR GLORY BOY
Company:
YTV
Project details:
Dir. Marc Miller

Prod. Peter Willes
Date: 1972
Production (role):
A BIT OF VISION
Company:
YTV
Project details:
'ITV Sunday Night Theatre'

Dir. Marc Miller

Prod. Peter Willes
Date: 1971
Production (role):
A BIT OF FAMILY FEELING
Company:
YTV
Project details:
'The Ten Commandments'

Dir. Marc Miller

Prod. Peter Willes
Production (role):
A BIT OF AN ADVENTURE
Company:
YTV
Project details:
Television play

Dir. Marc Miller

Prod. Peter Willes
Date: 1967
Production (role):
DRUMS ALONG THE AVON
Company:
BBC
Project details:
'The Wednesday Play'

Dir. James McTaggart
Date: 1964
Production (role):
DRILL PIG
Company:
ITV
Project details:
ITV Play of the Week

Dir. John Hale
Date: 1964
Production (role):
PRISONER AND ESCORT
Company:
ABC
Project details:
'Armchair Theatre'

Dir. Phillip Saville
Date: 1962
Production (role):
NOT AT ALL
Company:
BBC West Region
Project details:
Single Film

Dir. Patrick Dromgoole
Date: 1961
Production (role):
TRAITOR IN A STEEL HELMET
Company:
BBC West Region
Project details:
Single Film

Dir. Patrick Dromgoole
FEATURE FILM
Date: 2008
Production (role):
THE OTHER MAN
Company:
Rainmark Films
Project details:
Co-written with the director Richard Eyre

Starring Liam Neeson and Antonio Banderas
Date: 2001
Production (role):
IRIS
Company:
BBC Films
Project details:
Co-written with the director Richard Eyre

Prods. Robert Fox and Scott Rudin
Date: 1995
Production (role):
AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE
Company:
BBC Films
Project details:
From the book by Beryl Bainbridge

Dir. Mike Newell

Prod. Hilary Heath
Date: 1979
Production (role):
CUBA
Company:
Holmby Pictures
Project details:
Dir. Richard Lester
Date: 1969
Production (role):
THE BED SITTING ROOM
Company:
United Artists
Project details:
From the screenplay and play by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus

Dir. Richard Lester
Date: 1968
Production (role):
THE LONG DAY’S DYING
Company:
Junction Films / Paramount
Project details:
From a book by Alan White

Dir. Peter Collinson
Date: 1968
Production (role):
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
Company:
Woodfall
Project details:
From a version by John Osborne

Dir. Tony Richardson
Date: 1967
Production (role):
HOW I WON THE WAR
Company:
Petersham Pictures
Project details:
Loosely based on the book by Patrick Ryan

Dir. Richard Lester
Date: 1966
Production (role):
HELP!
Company:
Walter Shenson
Project details:
Co-written with Marc Behm

Dir. Richard Lester
Date: 1965
Production (role):
THE KNACK
Company:
Woodfall
Project details:
Dir. Richard Lester

The Grand Prix at Cannes Winner

Credits

  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 1995
    Production (role): THE TOWER
    Company: Almeida
    Project details: Version of the Dumas play

    Dir. Howard Davies

    Publ. Oberon
  • Date: 1993
    Production (role): THE MOUNTAIN GIANTS
    Company: NT
    Project details: Version of the unfinished Pirandello play with a new last act

    Dir. Bill Gaskill

    Publ. Absolute Press
  • Date: 1989
    Production (role): MAN BEAST AND VIRTUE
    Company: National Theatre
    Project details: Version of the Pirandello play

    Dir. Bill Gaskill

    Publ. Absolute Press
  • Date: 1986
    Production (role): ACROSS FROM THE GARDEN OF ALLAH
    Company: Comedy
    Project details: Dir. Ron Daniels

    Prod. Duncan Weldon

    Starring Glenda Jackson and Nigel Hawthorne

    100 performances

    Publ. Oberon
  • Date: 1984
    Production (role): RED STAR
    Company: Barbican RSC
    Project details: Dir. John Caird
  • Date: 1978
    Production (role): HAS WASHINGTON LEGS?
    Company: National Theatre
    Project details: Dir. Geoffrey Reeves
  • Date: 1975
    Production (role): JINGO
    Company: Aldwych RSC
    Project details: Dir. Richard Eyre

    Publ. Methuen and Oberon
  • Date: 1971
    Production (role): VETERANS
    Company: Lyceum, Edinburgh / Royal Court
    Project details: Dir. Ronald Eyre

    Prods. Michael Codron and Oscar Lewenstein

    Starring John Gielgud

    Publ. Methuen and Oberon

    Evening Standard Award 1972
  • Date: 1969
    Production (role): H
    Company: National Theatre Old Vic
    Project details: A tale of the Indian Mutiny, about one of the generals in Trafalgar Square

    Dir. Geoffrey Reeves

    Publ. Methuen and Oberon
  • Date: 1968
    Production (role): DINGO
    Company: Bristol / Royal Court
    Project details: Full-length play

    Dir. Geoffrey Reeves

    Publ. Penguin, Methuen and Oberon
  • Date: 1966
    Production (role): DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH
    Company: Aldwych RSC
    Project details: One act play

    Dirs. Trevor Nunn and Peter Hall
  • Date: 1965
    Production (role): MEALS ON WHEELS
    Company: Royal Court
    Project details: Play

    Dir. John Osborne
  • Date:
    Production (role): FILL THE STAGE WITH HAPPY HOURS
    Company: Nottingham / Royal Court / Vaudeville
    Project details: Full-length play

    Dir. Bill Gaskill

    Prod. Michael Codron

    Publ. Penguin and Oberon
  • Date: 1962
    Production (role): DINGO
    Company:
    Project details: Full-length play
  • Date: 1960
    Production (role): PRISONER AND ESCORT
    Company:
    Project details: Charles's first play

    Publ. Penguin
  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 2000
    Production (role): MONSIGNOR RENARD “SUMMER 1940”
    Company: ITV
    Project details: Dir. Malcolm Mowbury (Ep. 3)

    Prod. Chris Kelly
  • Date: 1998
    Production (role): KAVANAGH QC
    Company: Carlton
    Project details: “BRIEFS TROOPING GAILY”

    Dirs. Jack Gold and Peter Smith

    Prod. Chris Kelly
  • Date: 1997
    Production (role): KAVANAGH QC
    Company: Carlton
    Project details: “MUTE OF MALICE”

    Dirs. Jack Gold and Peter Smith

    Prod. Chris Kelly
  • Date: 1997
    Production (role): SHARPE'S WATERLOO
    Company: Carlton
    Project details: Dir. Tom Clegg

    Prod. Malcolm Craddock
  • Date: 1996-97
    Production (role): SHARPE'S REGIMENT
    Company: Carlton
    Project details: Dir. Tom Clegg

    Prod. Malcolm Craddock
  • Date: 1995
    Production (role): ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND
    Company: Ladbroke Films, Channel 4
    Project details: Television play from a version by John Osborne

    Dir. Tony Palmer
  • Date: 1994
    Production (role): SHARPE'S COMPANY
    Company: Carlton
    Project details: Dir. Tom Clegg

    Prod. Malcolm Craddock
  • Date: 1994
    Production (role): A BREED OF HEROES
    Company: BBC
    Project details: 'Screen One'

    Television play from the book by Alan Judd

    Dir. Diurmid Lawrence

    Prod. Andree Molyneux
  • Date: 1988
    Production (role): TUMBLEDOWN
    Company: BBC
    Project details: Single Film

    Dir. Richard Eyre

    Prod. Richard Broke

    BAFTA Best Single Play

    RTS Best Single Play

    Prix Italia
  • Date: 1988
    Production (role): INSPECTOR MORSE
    Company: Carlton
    Project details: Dir. Peter Hammond

    Prod. Kenny McBain
  • Date: 1987
    Production (role): MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS
    Company: BBC
    Project details: Prod. Joe Waters
  • Date: 1984
    Production (role): PUCCINI
    Company: Channel 4
    Project details: Single Film
  • Date: 1983
    Production (role): WAGNER
    Company: London Trust
    Project details: Dir. Tony Palmer
  • Date: 1983
    Production (role): RED MONARCH
    Company: Goldcrest
    Project details: Single Film
  • Date: 1977-79
    Production (role): DON’T FORGET TO WRITE
    Company: BBC
    Project details: Dirs. David Askey, John Bruce and Alan Dossor

    Prod. Joe Waters
  • Date: 1997
    Production (role): LOVE LIES BLEEDING
    Company: YTV
    Project details: ITV Playhouse

    Dir. David Cunliffe

    Prod. Peter Willes
  • Date: 1974
    Production (role): DEATH OR GLORY BOY
    Company: YTV
    Project details: Dir. Marc Miller

    Prod. Peter Willes
  • Date: 1972
    Production (role): A BIT OF VISION
    Company: YTV
    Project details: 'ITV Sunday Night Theatre'

    Dir. Marc Miller

    Prod. Peter Willes
  • Date: 1971
    Production (role): A BIT OF FAMILY FEELING
    Company: YTV
    Project details: 'The Ten Commandments'

    Dir. Marc Miller

    Prod. Peter Willes
  • Date:
    Production (role): A BIT OF AN ADVENTURE
    Company: YTV
    Project details: Television play

    Dir. Marc Miller

    Prod. Peter Willes
  • Date: 1967
    Production (role): DRUMS ALONG THE AVON
    Company: BBC
    Project details: 'The Wednesday Play'

    Dir. James McTaggart
  • Date: 1964
    Production (role): DRILL PIG
    Company: ITV
    Project details: ITV Play of the Week

    Dir. John Hale
  • Date: 1964
    Production (role): PRISONER AND ESCORT
    Company: ABC
    Project details: 'Armchair Theatre'

    Dir. Phillip Saville
  • Date: 1962
    Production (role): NOT AT ALL
    Company: BBC West Region
    Project details: Single Film

    Dir. Patrick Dromgoole
  • Date: 1961
    Production (role): TRAITOR IN A STEEL HELMET
    Company: BBC West Region
    Project details: Single Film

    Dir. Patrick Dromgoole
  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 2008
    Production (role): THE OTHER MAN
    Company: Rainmark Films
    Project details: Co-written with the director Richard Eyre

    Starring Liam Neeson and Antonio Banderas
  • Date: 2001
    Production (role): IRIS
    Company: BBC Films
    Project details: Co-written with the director Richard Eyre

    Prods. Robert Fox and Scott Rudin
  • Date: 1995
    Production (role): AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE
    Company: BBC Films
    Project details: From the book by Beryl Bainbridge

    Dir. Mike Newell

    Prod. Hilary Heath
  • Date: 1979
    Production (role): CUBA
    Company: Holmby Pictures
    Project details: Dir. Richard Lester
  • Date: 1969
    Production (role): THE BED SITTING ROOM
    Company: United Artists
    Project details: From the screenplay and play by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus

    Dir. Richard Lester
  • Date: 1968
    Production (role): THE LONG DAY’S DYING
    Company: Junction Films / Paramount
    Project details: From a book by Alan White

    Dir. Peter Collinson
  • Date: 1968
    Production (role): THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
    Company: Woodfall
    Project details: From a version by John Osborne

    Dir. Tony Richardson
  • Date: 1967
    Production (role): HOW I WON THE WAR
    Company: Petersham Pictures
    Project details: Loosely based on the book by Patrick Ryan

    Dir. Richard Lester
  • Date: 1966
    Production (role): HELP!
    Company: Walter Shenson
    Project details: Co-written with Marc Behm

    Dir. Richard Lester
  • Date: 1965
    Production (role): THE KNACK
    Company: Woodfall
    Project details: Dir. Richard Lester

    The Grand Prix at Cannes Winner
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