Peter John Cooper
| Peter John Cooper - Writer, Director and Performance Poet |
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Peter Cooper has been a writer and director for 30 years. He has worked in repertory companies throughout the country and was the First Artistic Director of the Oxfordshire Touring Theatre. In 1992 he set up Spyway Projects with Annette Sumption. He has written and directed plays that have been performed thoughut the UK. His specialities are developing new writng and working with communities in unusual venues.
In 1996 he undertook a business management course at Bournemouth University and has been a very successful in developing creative ideas in the commercial world. Among his clients have been BP Exploration where he reworked their Health and Safety Induction Training Programme. Peter is also known now as an award winning performance poet. He can be seen in small clubs and dives throuhgout Dorset and beyond with his beat poetry and jazz ranting. One reviewer said: "... a brilliant poet delivering his poems withtremendous energy." Some comments about Productions by Peter John Cooper "...a play that is certain to become a theatrical treasure in the future" "She Opened the Door" for AsOne Theatre Co. (Dorset Echo) “ A genuine masterstroke of theatre” Writing for Theatre and Performance “Little Arthur’s History of England” originally written for The Oxford Festival. Adapted for radio and updated for stage 2009. Artsreach tour of Dorset 2010 “The Strange Sea Sighed” The persistent illusion of Swanage. 2008 “Field of Fantasy” Performance poetry 2008 “Flexigesis” Extended performance poetry with soundscape artist Si Walters 2007 "The Purbeck Wheel" a song cycle for a parish choir (lyrics) with Roderick Skeaping. First performance 26th October 2003 at St. George's Church, Langton Matravers Dorset "Two Songs for Elizabeth" (lyrics) with Roderick Skeaping. Performed by James Bowman and the English Consort of Viols at he Banqueting Hall of Whitehall Palace. June 2003 “Our World of Shopping” (libretto ) with Roderick Skeaping for 2002 Brighton Festival “Captain Pugwash and the Monster of Green Island” (Children's play) toured nationwide 1992 “The Elements” (Lyric writer) choral work by Roderick Skeaping. World Premiere at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 1995 "Shahrazad" (With the company) Oxfordshire Touring Theatre 1988 "Hiawatha" (Adapted from Longfellow) O.T.T. 1986 “The Trumpet Major” (Adapted from Thomas Hardy) O.T.T. 1987 “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Vanishing Author” O.T.T.1986 “The Runaway Train” (with Jem Barnes) with Roderick Skeaping at the Oxford Playhouse. 1985 “The Mayor of Casterbridge” (Adapted from Thomas Hardy). O.T.T. 1983 “Jane Eyre”, (with Helen Palmer) Oxfordshire Touring Theatre 1982 “Painting the Clouds with Sunshine” Theatr Clwyd 1981 “The Jolly Farmer” (with Jem Barnes) Horseshoe Theatre, Basingstoke 1975 Commercial scripting projects for the RAC, Unipart, Home Office Fire Services Training College Plus many children's and schools' educational plays Poetry and printed Work “The Elements” Published on the Web 2001 "A Bunch of Fives" Collection. Published 2002 “Castaways” A novel in short story form which shows how individuals react to life in a limited community in the days of global networking. "Jack in Lavender" a detective whodunnit about a murdered hurdy gurdy player in Victorian London. With Elinor Rose Cooper. “Fog Tiger” A children’s novel of Chinese boxes dealing with world travel and alienation “Lying, Stealing and Cheating” A manual on presentation technique based on twenty years in presentation coaching for commercial Organisations “The Time Machine” Play based on H.G. Well’s classic novels which asks what will become of humanity and the world it exists in. Theatre Director Directing production of "She Opened the Door" for AsOne Theatre Co. Directing Production of "Hey Baby" by Nell Denton for AsOne Theatre Company
Visiting Director for "A Chorus of Disapproval" by Alan Ayckbourn at the Arts Institute Bournemouth 2007 Co-ordinator Sparkle Drama Project An ESF funded project working with adults with learning difficulties throughout Dorset. As well as achieving set learning targets, groups from 7 centres produce 18 small performances and one major theatre Piece (The Tempest). Oxfordshire Touring Theatre, Oxford, 1982-1988 Artistic Director Took moribund company with significant deficit and turned it into an active and viable organisation. Six years of expanding venues in communities throughout the region. Established new writing policy and was successful in achieving Arts Council funding for this Instigated new forms of community involvement. Directed over twenty productions for theatres and non-theatre venues Director of Outreach Productions, Theatr Clwyd 1981-1982 Associate Director, Horseshoe Theatre Company, Basingstoke 1976-1979 Assistant Director, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe 1974 Over fifty productions directed altogether including Mid scale, National Touring, Local Touring, Community, and TIE. Including: “The Promise” by Aleksi Arbuzov “All’s Well That End Well” by William Shakespeare “Slag” by David Hare “Intimate Exchanges“ (All 8 plays)Alan Ayckbourn |
