Professor Frank McGuinness[1][2] (born 1953) is an Irish writer. As
well as his own plays, which include The Factory Girls, Observe the
Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Someone Who'll Watch Over
Me and Dolly West's Kitchen, he is recognised for a "strong record of
adapting literary classics, having translated the plays of Racine,
Sophocles, Ibsen, Garcia Lorca, and Strindberg to critical
acclaim".[3] He has also published four collections of poetry, and two
novels. McGuinness has been Professor of Creative Writing at
University College Dublin (UCD) since 2007.[1]McGuinness was born in
Buncrana, a town located on the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal,
Ireland. He was educated locally and at University College Dublin,
where he studied Pure English and medieval studies to postgraduate
level.[citation needed]He first came to prominence with his play The
Factory Girls, but established his reputation with his play about
World War I, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme,
which was staged in Dublin's Abbey Theatre and internationally. The
play made a name for him when it was performed at Hampstead Theatre,
drawing comments about McGuinness's Irish Catholic background.[4] It
won numerous awards including the London Evening Standard Award for
Most Promising Playwright for McGuinness and the Christopher
Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize. He has also written new versions of
classic dramas, including works by Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, and
Euripides, adapting the literal translations of others.[5] In
addition, he wrote the screenplay for the film Dancing at Lughnasa,
adapting the stage play by fellow Ulsterman Brian Friel.
well as his own plays, which include The Factory Girls, Observe the
Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Someone Who'll Watch Over
Me and Dolly West's Kitchen, he is recognised for a "strong record of
adapting literary classics, having translated the plays of Racine,
Sophocles, Ibsen, Garcia Lorca, and Strindberg to critical
acclaim".[3] He has also published four collections of poetry, and two
novels. McGuinness has been Professor of Creative Writing at
University College Dublin (UCD) since 2007.[1]McGuinness was born in
Buncrana, a town located on the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal,
Ireland. He was educated locally and at University College Dublin,
where he studied Pure English and medieval studies to postgraduate
level.[citation needed]He first came to prominence with his play The
Factory Girls, but established his reputation with his play about
World War I, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme,
which was staged in Dublin's Abbey Theatre and internationally. The
play made a name for him when it was performed at Hampstead Theatre,
drawing comments about McGuinness's Irish Catholic background.[4] It
won numerous awards including the London Evening Standard Award for
Most Promising Playwright for McGuinness and the Christopher
Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize. He has also written new versions of
classic dramas, including works by Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, and
Euripides, adapting the literal translations of others.[5] In
addition, he wrote the screenplay for the film Dancing at Lughnasa,
adapting the stage play by fellow Ulsterman Brian Friel.
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