Alex Oates

Alex Oates (born Newcastle, 1987) is an English playwright ^[1][2] from the North East.

Background

Born in Newcastle, Oates was born to a nurse and police inspector and raised in Whitley Bay in the North East of England. He moved to London to attend Middlesex University in 2006 where he studied Theatre Arts. Oates also studied for a semester at New Paltz where he specialised in dramatic writing under Prof. Laurence Carr.^[3]

On graduating Oates was selected to write for Eastenders: E20 ^[4][5] and spent time in the story department at Eastenders. Oates was later selected out of thousands for the 2010 Old Vic New Voices 24 hour plays^[6][7][8] which sparked his career in theatre.

Career

Oates first play Fan Fiction was produced as a reading at the St. James Theatre directed by Dominic Shaw and starring Iwan Rheon, Russell Tovey and Rebecca Ryan.^[9]

Oates then wrote Silk Road for the Edinburgh Fringe (Assembly). Silk Road tackles the issue of buying drugs online and was the first play funded by the digital currency Bitcoin,^{[10][11][12][13][14]} it starred James Baxter^[15] and was directed by Dominic Shaw.

Oates next play Pig was produced by Silent Uproar productions for Hull Truck Theatre July 2015^[16] and later transferred to the New Diorama Theatre in September 2015.^[17] Pig was based on extensive research and interviews with police officers and was about the state of the British police force.

Oates has collaborated with actress Katie Sheridan to create new online romantic comedy, Match Not Found^[18] launched October 2015. Oates is also a recipient of the prestigious Peggy Ramsay Legacy grant.

Plays

• Zombie Nation (2011) as part of the 24 hour plays, Old Vic Theatre, directed by Ed Stambolloullan
• Fan Fiction (2012) Rehearsed Reading, St James Theatre, directed by Dominic Shaw
• Silk Road (2014) Assembly Studios, directed by Dominic Shaw
• Hansel (2015) Assemble Fest, Directed by Alex Mitchell
• Pig (2015) Hull Truck and New Diorama, Directed by Alex Mitchell

References