Howard Brenton

Howard Brenton is a British playwright and screenwriter, known for his politically charged and often controversial works. Brenton was born in Portsmouth and educated at Chichester High School before studying at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. His early work in the theatre began with experimental plays, and his breakthrough came in 1969 with Revenge, staged at the Royal Court Theatre. The play, a satire on British politics, showcased Brenton’s bold, confrontational style, which would become a defining feature of his writing.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Brenton became a prominent figure in British theatre, often collaborating with other playwrights like David Hare. His play The Romans in Britain (1980), which drew parallels between Roman and modern imperialism, sparked controversy and legal challenges for its graphic content. Many of his works, including Magnificence (1973) and The Churchill Play (1974), were staged at the Royal Court Theatre and addressed themes of power, authority, and societal change, cementing Brenton’s reputation as a writer unafraid to tackle difficult subjects.

In addition to his theatre work, Brenton wrote extensively for television and film. He collaborated on the BBC series Spooks and adapted literary works, such as Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists for the stage. Brenton has continued to write plays into the 21st century, including Anne Boleyn (2010) for Shakespeare’s Globe.

Brenton spoke to Simon Stephens in S2 Ep2 of Playwright’s Podcast.