Brian Coyle - Playwright & Scriptwriter
TIMELESS
If you can't trust your memory, what can you trust?
Martin has a problem - he can’t make new memories since he went to the dentist ten years ago. He's a cabbie with the Knowledge, but he can't remember yesterday. It’s not only strange and upsetting for him, his wife has the unenviable task of explaining what’s wrong with him every single day - and the strain is beginning to show.
A production by Mixed Up Theatre of this single-hander was performed in London in 2018 at the Hen & Chickens in Islington (as part of the Camden Fringe) and also at Theatre N16 in the same year.
In 2021, a further production (with the same team) performed it at The Space (London) and then took it on a mini-tour to Manchester (53Two Theatre) and Bristol (The Alma Theatre).
★★★★★ "Outstanding... a must see!" North West End
★★★★★ "an absolute treat" London Theatre 1
★★★★ "a masterwork of understated wit and humanity" Everything Theatre
★★★★ "thought-provoking and human" The_Upcoming
TIMELESS is on again this year (2024) at the Edinburgh Fringe.
You can buy the script to read here.
THE BOX
Tom and Kate have a large square box sitting in the middle of their living room. What’s in it and why does it matter to them?
Relationships aren’t always easy. Couples negotiate, compromise – and even lie to each other. Most of these lies don’t have consequences, but some do; some have serious consequences.
It was first performed at The egg theatre part of Theatre Royal, Bath in 2018 directed by Jenny Davies and starring Alice Grace and Tom Turner.
It was performed again in July 2024 at The White Bear Theatre in London. Starring Martin Edwards and Sarah Lawrie. Directed by Jonathan Woolf. Reviews for this production below.
★★★★★ "a beautifully layered play" London Theatre 1
★★★★ "a strikingly original piece of new writing" The Reviews Hub
★★★★ "moving and visceral" Lou Reviews
★★★★ "not a word wasted" Love London Love Culture
★★★★ "Lawrie is heartbreak personified" Breaking the Fourth Wall
★★★★ "the suspense is unrelenting" North West End
WELCOME TO PARADISE ROAD
In a society where nothing is private and no one knows who to trust, a woman’s partner has disappeared. She is visiting her neighbour, head of the local Neighbourhood Watch, to find out if she’s heard anything about his disappearance. Will her neighbour help her or is she the person she should be most afraid of?
WELCOME TO PARADISE ROAD is a 60min play about creeping state control and the dangers of our surveillance society. It was first performed in Apr 2016 at the Page to Stage Theatre Festival in Liverpool. It won several awards at the festival including Best Script (Brian Coyle), Best Director (Emma Bird) and Best Female Actor (Emily Heyworth). The same company performed the play in Jul 16 at the Greater Manchester Fringe.
You can find out more about the play here.
KING OF THE WORLD
What happens when the man who has everything is still not satisfied?
In a kingdom ruthlessly ruled over by a paranoid King, one of his lowliest subjects has had enough of his madness. Can he survive defying the King, especially when he can't even trust the loyalty of his best friend?
KING OF THE WORLD is a dark comedy that looks at the ramifications of "strong man" leaders on ordinary people within a society.
It was performed at the Liverpool Fringe in June 2018 and the Greater Manchester Fringe in August 2018. Starring Keith Hyland, Pea Lee and Sean McGlynn. Dir Emma Bird.
It was nominated for: Best Actor, Best Director, Best New Writing and Best Overall Production at the Liverpool Fringe Awards 2018. You can find out more about the play here.
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