Philip Osment acted with companies such as Gay Sweatshop and Shared Experience and then went on to work as a director and writer - until 1989 he was an artistic director of Gay Sweatshop directing POPPIES, COMPROMISED IMMUNITY and his own play THIS ISLAND’S MINE. His three plays set in Devon where he grew up were performed by Cambridge Theatre Company (aka Method and Madness). These were all nominated for Writers Guild awards and THE DEARLY BELOVED won the award for best regional play in 1993. He has also written and directed plays aimed at young audiences for Theatre Centre and Red Ladder; directed at the National Theatre Studio (THE NIGHT GARDEN by Lin Coghlan); developed and directed a Romanian/British co-production (WITH LOVE FROM NICOLAE by Lin Coghlan) which was performed at Bristol Old Vic and on tour in England and Romania. He regularly works as a writer’s friend/dramaturg for a wide range of companies and organisations. In 2000 he directed a production of WOYZECK for Graeae Theatre Co; his play WISE GUYS was the inaugural production at the new Contact Theatre in Manchester in February (nominated for Manchester Evening News Best New Play award and TMA Best Children and Young People’s Production); the Quare Hawks production of his play THE UNDERTAKING toured Ireland; he co-directed a Trinidadian play (CLEAR WATER) for BITE (Barbican International Festival); his play for children LITTLE VIOLET AND THE ANGEL was co-winner of the Peggy Ramsay Award. In 2001 his fourth play for Method and Madness, BURIED ALIVE (first performed in March 1999) was revived at Plymouth Theatre Royal (March) and Hampstead Theatre (April); he directed Lorca’s BLOOD WEEDING for Graeae; and his own production of LITTLE VIOLET AND THE ANGEL opened at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff In 2002 his latest play LEAVING about young male suicide is being produced by Quare Hawks, Ireland, opening at The Garage Theatre, Monaghan on May 4th prior to a tour.
