Background
Richard Anthony Bean was born on 11 June 1956 in Kingston-upon-Hull. He was a pupil at Hull Grammar School and after leaving school worked for 18 months at a bread plant in Hull. This experience ultimately provided the inspiration for his play Toast (1999). He then studied for a degree in Social Psychology at Loughborough University, where he graduated with a 2:1 BSc Hons.
After university, he worked as an occupational psychologist for fifteen years and as a comedian between 1989 and 1994. During this time, he became a writer and performer on the Writers Guild Award nominated BBC radio sketch show, Control Group Six. His career in theatre began in 1995 when he wrote the libretto for the opera 'Paradise of Fools'. The following year, his first full-length play, 'Of Rats and Men', premiered at the Canal Cafe Theatre. The play was later adapted for radio and was nominated for a Sony Award.
Since this early success, Richard Bean has enjoyed a prolific writing career and has written over 19 works for the stage including 'The Mentalists' (2002), 'The Hypochondriac' (2005), 'England People Very Nice' (2009), 'The Heretic' (2011), 'One Man, Two Guvnors' (2011), 'Great Britain' (2014), 'Pitcairn' (2014) and the musical 'Made in Dagenham' (2014). He has also won several awards for his work including the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play for 'Harvest' (2005) and the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play for 'The Heretic' and 'One Man, Two Guvnors' (2011).
What can the collection be used for?
This collection includes draft scripts for various stage, radio and TV works by Richard Bean. It also includes related correspondence, research notes and subject files for specific projects.
What records will I find in the collection?
This collection (ref U DRBE) includes draft scripts for various stage, radio and TV works by Richard Bean. It also includes related correspondence, research notes and subject files for specific projects. The catalogue is structured as follows:
U DRBE/1 Works for Radio
U DRBE/2 Works for Theatre
U DRBE/3 Works for Television
U DRBE/4 Short Stories
U DRBE/5 Notebooks
U DRBE/6 Subject Files
How do I access the Collection?
The collection is available for anyone to use. Due to the personal and sensitive nature of some of the material certain closures have been placed on parts of this collection, and these are clearly identified on the catalogue entries available in the searchroom or via our online catalogue.