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Alistair McDowall

DOB - DOD

1987

Home Town

Great Broughton, England

Stage Debut

2012

Alistair McDowall is a British playwright who grew up in Great Broughton, North Yorkshire, and is known for his dark, psychological, and genre-defying dramas. His play Brilliant Adventures was staged at the Royal Court Theatre in 2011 and went on to win the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

McDowall’s breakout work, Pomona (2014), was initially staged at the Orange Tree Theatre before transferring to the Royal Court. It received widespread critical acclaim for its distinctive structure and atmosphere. McDowall draws inspiration from unconventional sources, such as the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, which resonates with his interest in collective imagination, engagement, and evolving narratives. His other notable plays include X (2016), a surreal and chilling exploration of isolation set in a research station on Pluto, The Glow (2022), and all of it (2023).

McDowall’s writing is marked by its experimental approach to form and storytelling. He frequently challenges traditional theatre norms, playing with time, space, and genre in ways that push the boundaries of conventional drama. His works often combine elements of science fiction, horror, and the absurd.

McDowall discussed his life and work with Simon Stephens for the Royal Court’s Playwright’s Podcast.


Works by Alistair McDowall

Brilliant Adventures

Brilliant Adventures

2012

Alistair McDowall

Talk Show

Talk Show

2013

Alistair McDowall

all of it

all of it

2020

Alistair McDowall

all of it

all of it

2023

Alistair McDowall

The Glow

The Glow

2022

Alistair McDowall

X

X

2016

Alistair McDowall