John Arden

October 26, 1930 (age 81)

Barnsley, England, United Kingdom

All Fall Down 1955, The Life of Manitoba 1956, The Waters of Babylon 1957, Live Like Pigs 1958, Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance 1959, Soldier, Soldier 1960, The Happy Haven (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1960, The Business of Good Government (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1960, Wet Fish 1962, The Workhouse Donkey 1963, Ironhand 1963, Ars Longa Vita Brevis (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1964, Armstrong’s Last Goodnight 1964, Left Handed Liberty 1965, Friday’s Hiding (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1966, The Royal Pardon (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1966, Muggins is a Martyr (with Margaretta Doctorate"Arcy and C.A.S.T.) 1968, The Hero Rises Up (musical with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1968, two autobiographical plays 1972, The Ballygombeen Bequest (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1972, The Island of the Mighty (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1972, Keep These People Moving (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1972, The Non-Stop Connolly Show (with Margaretta Doctorate"Arcy) 1975, Pearl 1977, Vandaleur’s Folly (with Margaretta Doctorate"Arcy) 1978, The Little Gray Home in the West (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1978, The Making of Muswell Hill (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1979, The Ingenious Gentleman, Don Quixote de la Mancha (adapted from Cervantes) 1980, Garland for a Hoar Head 1982, The Old Manitoba Sleeps Alone 1982, The Manchester Enthusiasts (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1984, Whose Is The Kingdom? (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1986. Television documentary: Profile of Sean O’Casey (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1973. Essays: ToHe first gained critical attention for the radio play The Life of Manitoba in 1956 shortly after finishing his studies. Arden was initially associated with the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre in London. His 1959 play, Serjeant Musgrave"s Dance, in which four army deserters arrive in a northern mining town to exact retribution for an act of colonial violence, is considered to be his best. His work was influenced by Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre. Other plays include Live Like Pigs, The Workhouse Donkey, and Armstrong"s Last Goodnight, the last of which was performed at the 1963 Chichester Festival by the National Theatre after it was rejected by the Royal Court. His 1978 radio play Pearl was considered in a Guardian survey to be one of the best plays in that medium. He was an advocate of civil liberties, and opposed anti-terror legislation, as demonstrated in his 2007 radio play The Scam. He was elected to Aosdána in 2011 before dying in Galway in 2012. He was waked in a wicker casket.

John Arden

Edit Profile

novelist playwright writer

Background

Born in Barnsley, son of the manager of a glass factory, he was educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, King"s College, Cambridge and the Edinburgh College of Art, where he studied architecture.

Education

Bachelor, Sedbergh School, King's College, Cambridge, 1953. Diploma, Edinburgh College Art, 1955.

Career

All Fall Down 1955, The Life of Manitoba 1956, The Waters of Babylon 1957, Live Like Pigs 1958, Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance 1959, Soldier, Soldier 1960, The Happy Haven (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1960, The Business of Good Government (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1960, Wet Fish 1962, The Workhouse Donkey 1963, Ironhand 1963, Ars Longa Vita Brevis (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1964, Armstrong’s Last Goodnight 1964, Left Handed Liberty 1965, Friday’s Hiding (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1966, The Royal Pardon (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1966, Muggins is a Martyr (with Margaretta Doctorate"Arcy and C.A.S.T.) 1968, The Hero Rises Up (musical with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1968, two autobiographical plays 1972, The Ballygombeen Bequest (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1972, The Island of the Mighty (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1972, Keep These People Moving (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1972, The Non-Stop Connolly Show (with Margaretta Doctorate"Arcy) 1975, Pearl 1977, Vandaleur’s Folly (with Margaretta Doctorate"Arcy) 1978, The Little Gray Home in the West (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1978, The Making of Muswell Hill (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1979, The Ingenious Gentleman, Don Quixote de la Mancha (adapted from Cervantes) 1980, Garland for a Hoar Head 1982, The Old Manitoba Sleeps Alone 1982, The Manchester Enthusiasts (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1984, Whose Is The Kingdom? (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1986. Television documentary: Profile of Sean O’Casey (with Margaretta Doctorate’Arcy) 1973. Essays: ToHe first gained critical attention for the radio play The Life of Manitoba in 1956 shortly after finishing his studies. Arden was initially associated with the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre in London. His 1959 play, Serjeant Musgrave"s Dance, in which four army deserters arrive in a northern mining town to exact retribution for an act of colonial violence, is considered to be his best.

His work was influenced by Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre.

Other plays include Live Like Pigs, The Workhouse Donkey, and Armstrong"s Last Goodnight, the last of which was performed at the 1963 Chichester Festival by the National Theatre after it was rejected by the Royal Court. His 1978 radio play Pearl was considered in a Guardian survey to be one of the best plays in that medium.

He was an advocate of civil liberties, and opposed anti-terror legislation, as demonstrated in his 2007 radio play The Scam. He was elected to Aosdána in 2011 before dying in Galway in 2012.

He was waked in a wicker casket.

Achievements

John Arden has been listed as a noteworthy playwright by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

The Non-Stop Connolly Show: Part 3 (Pt. 3) The Non-Stop Connolly Show: Part 3 (Pt. 3)

The Hero rises up. A Romantic Melodrama (Methuen Modern Plays) The Hero rises up. A Romantic Melodrama (Methuen Modern Plays)

Three Plays: the Waters of Babylon, Live Like Pigs and the Happy Haven Three Plays: the Waters of Babylon, Live Like Pigs and the Happy Haven

The Non-Stop Connolly Show: Part 6 (Pt. 6) The Non-Stop Connolly Show: Part 6 (Pt. 6)

Non-Stop Connolly Show: A Dramatic Cycle of Continuous Struggle in Six Parts (Methuen Modern Plays) Non-Stop Connolly Show: A Dramatic Cycle of Continuous Struggle in Six Parts (Methuen Modern Plays)

Hero Rises Up (Modern Plays) Hero Rises Up (Modern Plays)

$John Arden Plays: 1: The Waters of Babylon, When is a Door not a Door?, Live Like Pigs, The Happy Haven, and Serjeant Musgrave\'s Dance (World Classics) (v. 1) John Arden Plays: 1: The Waters of Babylon, When is a Door not a Door?, Live Like Pigs, The Happy Haven, and Serjeant Musgrave\'s Dance (World Classics) (v. 1)$ PENGUIN PLAYS: THREE PLAYS: THE WATERS OF BABYLON; LIVE LIKE PIGS; THE HAPPY HAVEN. PENGUIN PLAYS: THREE PLAYS: THE WATERS OF BABYLON; LIVE LIKE PIGS; THE HAPPY HAVEN.

PENGUIN PLAYS: THREE PLAYS: THE WATERS OF BABYLON; LIVE LIKE PIGS; THE HAPPY HAVEN. PENGUIN PLAYS: THREE PLAYS: THE WATERS OF BABYLON; LIVE LIKE PIGS; THE HAPPY HAVEN.

The Waters of Babylon; Live Like Pigs; The Happy Haven (Penguin Plays) The Waters of Babylon; Live Like Pigs; The Happy Haven (Penguin Plays)

book

Membership

Aosdána]

He was a member of the Royal Society of Literature. In Ireland, he was for a while a member of Official Sinn Féin.

Connections

Married Margaretta Ruth D'Arcy, 1957. 5 children.

Mother:: Anne Elizabeth (Layland) Arden

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Other photo of John Arden

Connections

Connections

book

The Non-Stop Connolly Show: Part 3 (Pt. 3)

The Hero rises up. A Romantic Melodrama (Methuen Modern Plays)

Three Plays: the Waters of Babylon, Live Like Pigs and the Happy Haven

The Non-Stop Connolly Show: Part 6 (Pt. 6)

Non-Stop Connolly Show: A Dramatic Cycle of Continuous Struggle in Six Parts (Methuen Modern Plays)

Hero Rises Up (Modern Plays)

The Royal Pardon

John Arden Plays: 1: The Waters of Babylon, When is a Door not a Door?, Live Like Pigs, The Happy Haven, and Serjeant Musgrave's Dance (World Classics) (v. 1)

PENGUIN PLAYS: THREE PLAYS: THE WATERS OF BABYLON; LIVE LIKE PIGS; THE HAPPY HAVEN.

The Waters of Babylon; Live Like Pigs; The Happy Haven (Penguin Plays)

John Arden

Background