John McGrath

Person

John McGrath

Writing July 1, 1935

Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK

Born in Birkenhead from Irish Catholic stock, John McGrath was a British playwright, screenwriter. producer, director and socialist who took up the cause of Scottish independence…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Play for Today

Play for Today

6.6 1970 TV Show
Screen Two

Screen Two

7.1 1985 TV Show
Z-Cars

Z-Cars

7.3 1962 TV Show
The Wednesday Play

The Wednesday Play

5.2 1964 TV Show
Robin Hood

Robin Hood

5.7 1991 Movie
Billion Dollar Brain

Billion Dollar Brain

5.7 1967 Movie
My Life in Pink

My Life in Pink

6.9 1997 Movie
Carrington

Carrington

6.2 1995 Movie
Aberdeen

Aberdeen

6.5 2000 Movie
The Reckoning

The Reckoning

7.5 1970 Movie
The Virgin Soldiers

The Virgin Soldiers

6.8 1969 Movie
Border Warfare

Border Warfare

10.0 1990 TV Show

Biography

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Born in Birkenhead from Irish Catholic stock, John McGrath was a British playwright, screenwriter. producer, director and socialist who took up the cause of Scottish independence and the principles of a radical, popular theatre with the creation of the 7:84 theatre company alongside his wife, Elizabeth MacLennan, and brother-in-law, David MacLennan. His most famous plays are arguably The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil which was brought to television in 1974 by John Mackenzie for the Play for Today strand, and Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun which was made into the film The Bofors Gun in 1968. He also wrote the screenplays for films such as Billion Dollar Brain, The Virgin Soldiers, The Reckoning, The Dressmaker and 1991's Robin Hood, and produced films such as Carrington and Aberdeen.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2023
    imagine... The Factory: Made in Manchester

    Movie Self - interviewed guest

  2. 2006
    Making Reel History

    Movie Self

  3. 2000
    Aberdeen

    Movie Co-Producer

  4. 1997
    My Life in Pink

    Movie Co-Producer

  5. 1996
    Half the Picture

    Movie Producer

  6. 1995
    Carrington

    Movie Producer

  7. 1994
    Mairi Mhor

    Movie Writer

  8. 1993
    The Long Roads

    Movie Writer

  9. 1991
    Robin Hood

    Movie Writer

  10. 1990
    Border Warfare

    TV show Writer

  11. 1988
    The Dressmaker

    Movie Executive Producer

  12. 1986
    Blood Red Roses

    Movie Director

  13. 1985
    Screen Two

    TV show Writer

  14. 1980
    The Adventures of Frank: Seeds of Ice

    Movie Director

  15. 1980
    The Adventures of Frank: Everybody's Fiddling Something

    Movie Writer

  16. 1974
    The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil

    Movie Various

More credits
  1. 1972
    The Bouncing Boy

    Movie Writer

  2. 1971
    Orkney

    Movie Writer

  3. 1970
    Play for Today

    TV show Writer / Director

  4. 1970
    Ende der Vorstellung 24 Uhr

    Movie Novel

  5. 1970
    The Reckoning

    Movie Screenplay

  6. 1969
    The Virgin Soldiers

    Movie Writer

  7. 1969
    Double Bill

    Movie Director

  8. 1968
    The Bofors Gun

    Movie Writer

  9. 1967
    Billion Dollar Brain

    Movie Screenplay

  10. 1966
    Exit 19

    Movie Producer

  11. 1966
    Shotgun

    Movie Producer

  12. 1966
    Five More

    TV show Director

  13. 1965
    The Day of Ragnarok

    Movie Producer

  14. 1964
    Six

    TV show Writer

  15. 1964
    The Diary of a Nobody

    Movie Writer

  16. 1964
    The Wednesday Play

    TV show Director

  17. 1964
    Diary of a Young Man

    TV show Writer

  18. 1962
    Z-Cars

    TV show Director

  19. —
    Fade to Black

    Movie Producer