Conor McPherson was born on 6 August 1971 and is an Irish playwright, screenwriter and director of stage and film.
13 Facts About Conor McPherson
1.
2.
In recognition of his contribution to world theatre, McPherson was awarded a doctorate of Literature, Honoris Causa, in June 2013 by the University College Dublin.
3.
Conor McPherson was educated at University College Dublin and began writing his first plays there as a member of UCD Dramsoc, the college's dramatic society, and went on to found Fly by Night Theatre Company which produced several of his plays.
4.
Conor McPherson is considered one of the best contemporary Irish playwrights; his plays have attracted good reviews, and have been performed internationally.
5.
Conor McPherson directed his play, Dublin Carol, at the Atlantic Theater Company, New York, in 2003.
6.
In September 2006, to great critical acclaim, Conor McPherson made his National Theatre debut as both author and director with The Seafarer at the Cottesloe auditorium, starring Karl Johnson and Jim Norton, with Ron Cook as their poker-playing, Mephistophelean guest.
7.
Norton won an Olivier Award for his performance while Conor McPherson was nominated for both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play.
8.
The production on Broadway received some positive reviews including such statements as "Conor McPherson is quite possibly the finest playwright of his generation" from Ben Brantley at The New York Times and "Succinct, startling and eerie, and the funniest Conor McPherson play to date" from The Observer.
9.
Conor McPherson wrote and directed a stage adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's story The Birds, which opened in September 2009 at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.
10.
Conor McPherson's version was described as "a profoundly seminal work" by The Guardian which managed, The Times said, to be "Shockingly funny".
11.
The project began when Dylan's office approached Conor McPherson and suggested creating a play using Dylan songs.
12.
Conor McPherson is the director and co-writer of The Eclipse, a film which had its world premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.
13.
Conor McPherson has cited James Joyce and Stanley Kubrick as two of his "heroes".