Glenn Chandler (born 12 March 1949) is a Scottish people playwright, novelist, producer and theatre director. He has written plays for theatre and radio, original screenplays for television and films, television series, and also novels.[ Since the completion of Taggart in 2010, Glenn Chandler has focused on writing for the theatre, with a consistent run of productions in both London and Edinburgh.][ "Glenn Chandler discusses his love of theatre and his new play The Lamplighters" The Upcoming Retrieved 10 February 2019]
Biography
Early life and Taggart
Glenn Chandler was born in Edinburgh in 1949, and educated at the Royal High School in the city. He moved from Scotland to London and began writing for the Soho Poly, where his early plays were produced.
Chandler created Taggart for STV's Controller of Drama, Robert Love, who wanted to set a police series in Glasgow. Chandler was inspired by true crime and real life, and even lifted the names of characters for the series from gravestones in Maryhill Cemetery in Glasgow.
Theatre career
Return to theatre
Glenn Chandler has continued to write for his first love, theatre, and has also written a series of books featuring a Brighton detective, DI Madden.[
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Since then, Chandler has worked almost exclusively in theatre. After transferring Boys of the Empire to the Kings Head Theatre in Islington, he wrote and produced Scouts in Bondage for the same theatre in 2009. His next production was the successful Cleveland Street: The Musical in 2010, which he wrote and produced for the Above The Stag Theatre, which was at its original location in Victoria. He made his directing debut with the award-winning The Custard Boys which he adapted from the novel by John Rae, and this was produced at the Tabard Theatre in 2011. He followed that up at the same theatre with The Lamplighters in 2012, a murder thriller with a supernatural edge, which he wrote, produced and directed. In 2013, he took two productions to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Sandel and Killers. Sandel, which he directed, was his controversial adaptation of Angus Stewart's novel of the same name, about a love affair between a student and a choirboy. Killers was a study of the correspondence of serial killers Dennis Nilsen, Peter Sutcliffe and Ian Brady, and was directed by Liam Rudden. In 2014, he transferred Sandel to the Above The Stag Theatre at its new premises in Vauxhall with a largely new cast.
Success on the fringe
In 2017, Chandler adapted the 1967 novel Lord Dismiss Us into a play for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in order to mark the 50th Anniversary of the partial legalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.[ "Taggart writer Glenn Chandler opens up about his new play marking 50 years since homosexuality was legalised" Daily Record Retrieved 18 November 2017] The play received positive reviews,[ "Lord Dismiss Us Five Star Review, BroadwayBaby" BroadwayBaby Retrieved 18 November 2017][ "Review: Lord Dismiss Us, theSpace at Surgeon’s Hall" A Younger Theatre Retrieved 18 November 2017][ "Edinburgh Review: Lord Dismiss Us at The Space @ Surgeons Hall" Theatre Weekly Retrieved 18 November 2017][ "Michael Campbell’s 1967 novel Lord Dismiss Us has been skilfully adapted by award-winning playwright Glenn Chandler." British Theatre Guide Retrieved 18 November 2017] and subsequently transferred to the Above The Stag Theatre in London later that year.[ "Lord Dismiss Us – The darkly funny new play at the UK’s only LGBT theatre." QX Magazine Retrieved 18 November 2017] The play was once again reviewed positively,[ "REVIEW: Lord Dismiss Us, Above The Stag ✭✭✭✭" BritishTheatre.com Retrieved 18 November 2017][ "Lord Dismiss Us, Above The Stag Theatre – Review" Everything Theatre Retrieved 18 November 2017][ "Review of Lord Dismiss Us at Above The Stag Theatre" LondonTheatre1 Retrieved 18 November 2017] and received four Off West End Award nominations, including 'Best Production' and 'Best New Play'.[ "The Offies (The Off West End Theatre Awards)" The Offies Retrieved 18 November 2017]
2018 saw Chandler write and produce Kids Play for that year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[ "Boys of the Empire Productions - Kids Play" The Space Retrieved 02 February 2019] As was the case with Lord Dismiss Us, Chandler's latest production was well received by critics,[ "Kids Play review at the Space, Edinburgh – ‘Expertly crafted comedy-drama’" The Stage Retrieved 02 February 2019][ "Two men, a bag of sex-toys and some moral danger in a thriller from Glenn Chandler" The List Retrieved 02 February 2019] and was also the recipient of the Broadway Baby Bobby Award for the "Best show of the Fringe".[ "Kids Play wins The Bobby Award for the best show of the Fringe" BroadwayBaby Retrieved 02 February 2019] After its run in Edinburgh, Kids Play transferred to London's Above The Stag Theatre with a new cast.[ "Kids Play Transfers To Above The Stag" British Theatre Retrieved 02 February 2019][ "Kids Play review, Above The Stag" British Theatre Guide Retrieved 02 February 2019] Following the conclusion of the run of Kids Play in London, Glenn Chandler wrote another new play called The Boy Under the Christmas Tree for the 2018 Christmas season at the King's Head Theatre in Islington,[ "NEWS: Glenn Chandler follows Kids Play with The Boy Under the Christmas Tree premiere" My Theatre Mates Retrieved 02 February 2019] with Chandler again choosing to direct his own piece.[ "Mystery, Mirth and Mayhem Surround The Boy Under The Christmas Tree" Broadway Baby Retrieved 02 February 2019] This play did not receive the same level of critical success as Lord Dismiss Us and Kids Play, and reviews were more mixed.[ "The Boy Under The Christmas Tree at the King’s Head Theatre" London Theatre 1 Retrieved 02 February 2019] Stephen Vowles, writing for the Boyz magazine, described the play as an "intriguing piece of modern theatre",[ "The Boy Under The Christmas Tree at the King’s Head Theatre: Press Night Review by Stephen Vowles" Boyz Retrieved 02 February 2019] whilst Greg Stewart of Theatre Weekly stated that "it's utter silliness, but remarkably funny".[ "Review: The Boy Under The Christmas Tree at King’s Head Theatre" The Space Retrieved 02 February 2019] These comments were contrasted, however, by other press reports, some of which criticised the humour of the piece.[ "Theatre review: The Boy Under the Christmas Tree" Partially Obstructed View Retrieved 02 February 2019]
Latest work
2019 began with the revival of Glenn Chandler's musical Fanny and Stella, a production which initially premiered at the Above The Stag Theatre in 2015.[ "REVIEW: Fanny and Stella, Above The Stag " British Theatre Retrieved 11 June 2019] As was the case with the original, the 2019 production was directed by Steven Dexter.[ "Fanny and Stella: The Shocking True Story" The Spy in the Stalls Retrieved 11 June 2019] Telling the real-life story of two Victorian Cross-dressing called Boulton and Park, it was met with widespread positive reviews.[ "REVIEW: Fanny and Stella, Above The Stag, 2019 production" British Theatre Retrieved 11 June 2019][ "Fanny and Stella – At Above The Stag – Review" London Unattached Retrieved 11 June 2019]
Later that year, Chandler took a new play, The Good Scout, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[ "NEWS: Glenn Chandler’s The Good Scout is first-ever play about the true Hitler Youth & Boy Scouts exchange" My Theatre Mates Retrieved 20 August 2019] Having come across the true story of exchange visits between Hitler Youth and British Boy Scouts in the 1930s, he also took inspiration from the Brexit crisis of the time, comparing the "good intentions" of the exchange visits to the "devastation of Europe".[ "Brexit drives Taggart creator Glenn Chandler to write and premiere new play in Edinburgh" Edinburgh Evening News Retrieved 20 August 2019] Following previews in London, The Good Scout premiered at Surgeons' Hall in Edinburgh, and was met with largely positive reviews.[ "Edinburgh Review: The Good Scout @ theSpace" Theatre Weekly Retrieved 20 August 2019][ "The Good Scout" British Theatre Guide Retrieved 20 August 2019][ "Review: The Good Scout" SGFringe Retrieved 20 August 2019] The play was also the recipient of the ScotsGay Magazine Award for Best New Writing.[ "FEATURED SHOW: More ★★★★ reviews & an Offies nomination for The Good Scout in London" My Theatre Mates Retrieved 03 November 2019]
Following its successful run in Edinburgh, The Good Scout transferred to the Above the Stag Theatre in London later that year.[ "NEWS: The Good Scout transfers direct from Edinburgh for four-week London run" My Theatre Mates Retrieved 03 November 2019] The London version of the play, which used mostly the same cast, was met with further positive reviews from critics.[ "The Good Scout at Above The Stag: Press night review by Stephen Vowles " Boyz Magazine Retrieved 03 November 2019][ "The Good Scout, Above The Stag Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until November 2, 2019" London Living Large Retrieved 03 November 2019][ "The Good Scout by Glenn Chandler at Above the Stag | Review" London Theatre 1 Retrieved 03 November 2019]
Work
Television
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Taggart (1983–2010) STV
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Dalziel and Pascoe (2006) BBC
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Dr Crippen (2004) Yorkshire Television
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The Brides in the Bath (2003) Yorkshire Television
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A Is for Acid (2002) Yorkshire Television
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The Life and Crimes of William Palmer (1998) Yorkshire Television
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Chiller (1995) Yorkshire Television
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Call Me Mister (1986) BBC
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Crown Court (1982–1984) Granada television
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Dramarama (1983) STV
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Angels (1975) BBC
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The Jewel and the Magpie Granada television
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The Kidnap of Mrs Muriel McKay Granada television
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To Kidnap a Princess Granada television
Film
Theatre
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The Good Scout (Also directed by Glenn Chandler at the Edinburgh Fringe, August 2019)
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The Boy Under the Christmas Tree (Also directed by Glenn Chandler at the King's Head Theatre, Christmas 2018 and January 2019)
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Kids Play (Also directed by Glenn Chandler at the Edinburgh Fringe, August 2018 and subsequently the Above The Stag Theatre, 2017)
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Lord Dismiss Us (Also directed by Glenn Chandler at the Edinburgh Fringe, August 2017 and subsequently the Above The Stag Theatre, October - November 2017)
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Fanny and Stella (Directed by Steven Dexter, Above The Stag Theatre, 2015. Revived at the Above the Stag in 2019).
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Sandel – Adapted from the novel by Angus Stewart (Self Directed) at Edinburgh Fringe 2013 & Above the Stag Theatre, Vauxhall 2014
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Killers (Directed by Liam Rudden) at Brighton Fringe 2013 & Edinburgh Fringe 2013
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The Lamplighters (Self Directed) at Tabard Theatre 2013
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On The Game (Little Theatre Club)
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The Private (Pitlochry Workshop Theatre, Soho Poly)
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Biker's Knoll (Directed by Brian Croucher)
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A Treat (Directed by Brian Croucher at Brighton Actors' Workshop)
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Moonlight Across the Heather (Directed by Brian Croucher)
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A Curse (Directed by Brian Croucher, produced in the Netherlands)
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Boys of the Empire (Directed by Patrick Wilde at the Edinburgh Fringe and again at the King's Head Theatre)
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Scouts in Bondage (Directed by Terence Barton at the King's Head Theatre)
Radio
Schools Radio
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Inquiry 7 scripts
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Life Time 2 scripts
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Teenage Plays: Job, Which Job?
Radio Drama
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A Little White Lie 30'
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Rough Play 60'
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Laddie Time 45'
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Another Gaff, Another Night 45'
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The Horseman's Word 30'
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Wallace's Warblers 30'
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Green Street Revisited 30'
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Fisherman's Tales 30'
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Wayfarers 30'
Books
DI Madden series
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Dead Sight (Hodder & Stoughton, October 2004)
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Savage Tide (Hodder & Stoughton, July 2003)
Horror fiction
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The Sanctuary (Hamlyn)
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The Tribe (Hamlyn)
Non fiction
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Burning Poison (Lea Valley Press)
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Killer (Mainstream)
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Taggart's Glasgow (Lennard Publishing)
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The Sins Of Jack Saul (Grosvenor House Publishing)
Awards
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BAFTA (1997) Taggart nominated for Best Drama Serial Award
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BAFTA (1995) nominated Best TV Writer
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award (1993) winner of Best Original Drama Serial
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BAFTA (1991) Taggart winner of Best Drama Serial Award
External links
