File on Nichols: Peter Nichols

by Peter Nichols

We are not short of good playwrights in Britain, but I know of none with Nichols' power to put modern Britain on the stage and send the spectators away feeling more like members of the human race (Irving Wardle, The Times).Among Nichols' most important plays are A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The National Health and Forget-me-Not Lane.Writers-Files is an important series documenting the work of major dramatists of the last hundred years. Each volume contains a comprehensive checklist of all the writer's plays, with a detailed performance history, excerpted reviews and a selection of the writers' own comments on their work."Methuen are to be congratulated on launching this series...extremely useful to theatre professionals as well as to students and teachers of drama" (David Bradby, Speech and Drama)

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 1993

About the author

NOT alias for John Christopher

Peter Nichols was an English playwright, screenwriter, and journalist known for his sharp wit and incisive social commentary. His most celebrated works, including A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The National Health, and Privates on Parade, blend comedy with profound explorations of human struggles, often drawing from his own life experiences.
Born in Bristol, Nichols served in the British Army’s Combined Services Entertainment Unit before studying acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He initially gained recognition writing for television before transitioning to the stage, where his plays tackled themes such as illness, war, and personal betrayal, frequently using humor as a counterpoint to tragedy. His distinctive voice made him one of Britain’s most autobiographical playwrights, chronicling his experiences in his memoir Feeling You're Behind and his published diaries.
Over his career, Nichols received critical acclaim and numerous awards, culminating in his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for services to drama. His legacy endures through his sharp, compassionate, and deeply human storytelling.