Mark Wheeller

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Mark Wheeller is a renowned British playwright, widely recognised for his contributions to the field of theatre education and his powerful plays that tackle social issues. Born on 15^th April 1958, Mark has garnered critical acclaim for his innovative approach to verbatim playwriting and his commitment to raising awareness about pressing topics through his works.

Early Life and Education[edit]

Mark Wheeller was born in Hockley, Essex. His father was an organist, a music teacher and a deputy head teacher in UK Grammar, Secondary and Comprehensive schools. Mark Wheeller’s father’s role as Musical Director for the Thornbury Amateur Operatic Society was his introduction to performing in theatre.

Wheeller attended Lincoln Cathedral School with a singing scholarship. The school was a cold, unloving and abusive environment which led to a court case in 2017. The case was featured by Panorama in Scandal in The Church in which Mark appeared.

Mark attended Marlwood Comprehensive and spent much of his time organising and directing self-written musicals with pupils from the school. His first production involved about 10 students and the last upwards of 50.

Wheeller went to university at Goldsmiths College, to train to be a Drama teacher (on the non-degree Cert Ed course) and volunteered as a songwriter for the Lewisham based Community Theatre group, 4R Movement and Dance Group.

Career[edit]

After completing his studies, Mark Wheeller began a career as a Drama teacher at Stantonbury Campus, a large and innovative Comprehensive School in Milton Keynes. He ran the Stantonbury Youth Theatre putting on large scale, original musicals.

Mark Wheeller started working on documentary theatre and verbatim theatre in 1993. His first play was RACE TO BE SEEN, telling the true story of world champion blind athlete Graham Salmon MBE. The play won the Evening News Critics Choice Award at the 1984 Edinburgh Fringe and was first published by Longmans. His next play, in 1986, was TOO MUCH PUNCH FOR JUDY, which centres on the consequences of drink driving, and has become the most performed play by a living playwright having had over 6,000 licensed performances.

Mark built a well-respected career as a playwright for young people, focusing on creating thought-provoking plays for young audiences. Mark's plays often tackle challenging subjects, including online grooming, mental health, substance abuse and social inequality. Through his works, he aims to provoke conversations and inspire positive change in society. Notable plays in his repertoire include MISSING DAN NOLAN (1993), which explores the disappearance of Daniel Nolan, and HARD TO SWALLOW (2003), a powerful drama about eating disorders.

In addition to writing plays, Mark has been actively involved in promoting drama and theatre education. He has conducted workshops and training sessions for teachers and students, sharing his expertise and encouraging creativity in the classroom. Wheeller's commitment to educational theatre has made him a sought-after speaker at conferences and seminars.

Recognition and Impact[edit]

Mark Wheeller's contributions to theatre and education have garnered recognition over the years. He has received several awards for his plays, including winning the All England Theatre Festival with ONE MILLION TO STOP THE TRAFFIK in 2010. Many of his works have been included in the National Curriculum in the United Kingdom, further solidifying his influence on drama education.

Mark's plays continue to be performed worldwide, both in professional theatre productions and school settings.

Personal Life[edit]

Mark Wheeller lives near Lymington in the New Forest. He is married to Rachel Wheeller and has three children, Ollie, a ship restorer, Charlie, a circus performer, and Daisy, a singer and teacher. Mark has one grandchild, Bleu.

Mark is known for his dedication to using theatre as a tool for social change. He is committed to empowering young people through drama and actively supports initiatives that promote creativity and self-expression.

Published works[edit]

1998: Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? (published by DBDA)
1999: Wacky Soap: A Cautionary Tale (published by DBDA)
2000: Hard to Swallow (original published by DBDA; new edition published by Salamander Street, 2 Jul 2020)
2001: The Story of Wacky Soap: A Cautionary Tale (published by DBDA)
2003: Chicken! (originally published by DBDA, new edition published by Salamander Street, 2 Jul 2020)
2004: Missing Dan Nolan (original published by DBDA, new edition published by Salamander Street, 2 Jul 2020)
2004: Superscripts - Arson About (published by Nelson Thornes)
2004: The Gate Escape: A Play About Truancy published by DBDA)
2005: Legal Weapon II (published by DBDA)
2007: Kill Jill (published by DBDA, new edition by Maverick Musicals and Plays)
2008: Graham: World’s Fastest Blind Runner (published by DBDA)
2008: Jamie in the Land of Dinnersphere (published by DBDA)
2009: Driven to Distraction (published by DBDA)
2009: Granny and the Wolf (published by Longman, 21 May , new edition by Maverick Musicals and plays)
2010: Drama Schemes: KS34 Lesson Plans (published by Rhinegold Publishing Ltd)
2010: Wheellerplays: The Definitive Author's Collection (published by DBDA)
2013: Butcher, Butcher, Burning Bright (published by Oxford University Press)
2021: The Story Behind… Too Much Punch for Judy (published by Pping Publishing 21 March 2013, new edition Salamander Street)
2015: The Drama Club: Developing Successful Performances with Clive Hulme (published by Pping Publishing)
2016: Scratching the Surface (published by Pping Publishing)
2017: Hard To Swallow - Easy To Digest (published by Pping Publishing)
2017: I Love You, Mum - I Promise I Won't Die (published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama)
2020: Too Much Punch for Judy (published by Salamander Street)
2020: Can You Hear Me Major Tom?/This Is For You (published by Pping Publishing)
2020: Can't Believe I'm Saying This to My Mum: Contemporary Duologues (published by Salamander Street)
2020: Chequered Flags to Chequered Futures (published by Salamander Street)
2020: Game Over (published by Salamander Street)
2020: Silas Marner – The Play (published by Salamander Street)
2020: Act Normal: Contemporary Monologues (published by Salamander Street)
2021: VERBATIM: The Fun of Making Theatre Seriously (published by Salamander Street)
2021: Race to be Seen: Graham, the World’s Fastest Blind Runner (published by Salamander Street)
2021: Kindness – A Legacy of the Holocaust: The Susan Pollack Story (published by Salamander Street)
2022: The Story Behind... I Love You, Mum - I Promise I Won't Die (published by Salamander Street)
2022: One Million to STOP THE TRAFFIK (published by Salamander Street)
2023: Pandemexplosion (published by Salamander Street)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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