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David Storey

DOB - DOD

13 July 1933 – 27 March 2017

Home Town

Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Stage Debut

1967

David Storey was a British novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Storey was the son of a coal miner, and his working-class upbringing influenced much of his writing. He initially trained as an artist at the Slade School of Fine Art, but his career took a different path when he began writing novels and plays. Storey gained early recognition with his novel This Sporting Life (1960), which was later adapted into a successful film in 1963.

In addition to his novels, Storey wrote numerous plays, many of which were staged at the Royal Court Theatre. His play The Contractor (1969) marked the beginning of a productive relationship with the Royal Court, followed by works such as Home (1970) and The Changing Room (1971). These plays often explored themes of isolation, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, set against the backdrop of working-class environments. Home, starring John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, was particularly well-received, and Storey won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Foreign Play.

Storey’s writing was notable for its blend of realism and psychological depth, reflecting his interest in both the inner lives of his characters and the social contexts in which they lived. He received several prestigious awards, including the Booker Prize for his novel Saville in 1976. Throughout his career, Storey remained a significant figure in both British theatre and literature, exploring the tensions between the individual and society.


Works by David Storey

The Restoration of Arnold Middleton

The Restoration of Arnold Middleton

1967

David Storey

In Celebration

In Celebration

1969

David Storey

The Contractor

The Contractor

1969

David Storey

Home

Home

1970

David Storey

The Changing Room

The Changing Room

1971

David Storey

Cromwell

Cromwell

1973

David Storey

The Farm

The Farm

1973

David Storey

Life Class

Life Class

1974

David Storey

In Celebration

In Celebration

1974

David Storey

Mother's Day

Mother's Day

1976

David Storey

The Changing Room

The Changing Room

1996

David Storey

The Changing Room

The Changing Room

2006

David Storey