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The playwright

John McGrath (1935-2002) was born in Birkenhead, England, 1935, to parents of Irish Catholic descent, and was educated in Wales.

McGrath’s association with Scottish drama comes from his work with the radical socialist theatre company 7:84 (Scotland). He played a leading role in establishing 7:84, and the company first staged and toured The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil (1973) to great acclaim.

McGrath spent two years in the British Army on National Service before studying at Oxford University. It was during this time that McGrath saw his first play – entitled A Man Has Two Fathers – staged by the University Drama Society.

McGrath was a prolific playwright. He also wrote screenplays for Hollywood and for television. At the 91�ȱ� he worked on a popular programme called Z-Cars. This innovative drama, set in Newtown (a fictionalised Liverpool), presented the work of the police force with a gritty realism that had never been shown before on British television.

Between 1970 and 1972, McGrath worked at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. This theatre was known for its ground-breaking work and interest in staging ‘social plays’. These plays focused predominantly on the socio-political history of Liverpool, and the lives of the city’s working class inhabitants.

McGrath believed that theatre ought to confront important social issues. He believed that the art form had the power to change people’s opinions and perceptions on important issues.