Political writing for Stage and Screen: James Graham, Abi Morgan and Roy Williams
Festival of Ideas
Sunday 3 May 2020 2.30 - 3.30pm
The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts
£15, £9
Join award winning writers James Graham, Abi Morgan and Roy Williams as they discuss the importance of political writing for film and theatre.
Due to the ongoing circumstances surrounding coronavirus, we regret to inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s RA Festival of Ideas. If you have purchased tickets to an event, please contact us on 0207 300 8090 or tickets@royalacademy.org.uk to arrange a refund.
In a time of multiple media and fake news, our panel will explore how fact and creative speculation can be responsibly merged, the differences between writing about the past or present, and ask whether writers should avoid or embrace party politics in their work.
They will reveal their motivations and approach to writing about political subjects and debate the purpose and power of political writing today.
This panel discussion will include an audience Q&A at the end.
All three speakers will be signing copies of their plays in the Burlington Gardens entrance hall, outside Pace Gallery after the event.
James Graham is a multi-award winning writer whose extensive work for stage and screen includes Brexit: The Uncivil War (2019), Ink (2017) about Rupert Murdoch’s takeover of the Sun, Coalition (2015), This House (2012), set in the House of Commons in the 1970’s. The screen adaptation of his stage play, Quiz, about Major Charles Ingram’s controversial appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, airs this year.
Abi Morgan has written films such as The Iron Lady (2011), Suffragette (2015) and Shame (2011) nominated for a BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film. Her works for television include Sex Traffic, which won the 2005 BAFTA award for Best Drama Series, and The Hour (2011) set in a BBC newsroom during the 1956 Suez Crisis.
Roy Williams is an award winning writer working across theatre, radio, TV and film. His plays include Death of England, which will open at the National Theatre in February 2020, The Firm (2017), Sucker Punch (2010), Days of Significance (2007) and Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (2002).