David Gooderson: Playwright, Actor
Director
Drama Tutor

David Gooderson – Playwright, Actor…

About David Gooderson

David Gooderson (playwright, actor, director...) Comedy with the Cambridge Footlights, playing the scariest monster in Dr Who, penning searing dramas about the Great War and the Holocaust – London-based David Gooderson has combined all these and much more in his career as playwright, actor, director, and drama tutor.

Writing

As a playwright David has specialised in factually-based drama and plays for children. His first play, The Killing of Mr Toad, was premiered at Salisbury Playhouse in 1982, became an acclaimed radio play in 1984 and was successfully revived at the Finborough Theatre, London in 2009. His writing credits include four other plays broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and five plays for children, co-written with David Conville and all produced at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park. They include a musical adaptation of The Wind in the Willows (music by Carl Davis). This has twice broken Box Office records and played two Christmas seasons in London’s West End.

Acting

David has played leading parts in theatres up and down the country. His London appearances include two seasons with the New Shakespeare Company at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park and many appearances at the Orange Tree Theatre. But he is probably best known for his radio and television work, which includes Davros in Dr Who, Simpkins, the Pathologist in A Touch of Frost, and more than 400 broadcasts for BBC Radio. Fuller biography of David Gooderson the actor

Directing

David's directing includes The Playboy of the Western World with Stephanie Cole (Salisbury Playhouse) and Staff Direction for English Touring Opera. He directed the premiere of his latest play, Kolbe’s Gift, in 2006 and a revival of his first play The Killing of Mr Toad at the Finborough Theatre in 2009. Fuller biography of David Gooderson the director

Drama Tutoring

David has been the radio tutor at Guildford School of Acting since 1990 directing courses on radio acting and preparing students for the prestigious BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Drama Award. Since 2001 he has also directed radio courses at the City Literary Institute in London.

Recent Work

Last year David directed a revival of his play The Killing of Mr Toad at the Finborough Theatre, London and acted in a season of plays at Farnham playing Mr Sleary in Charles Dickens’ Hard Times and Eddie Loomis in Quartermaine’s Terms by Simon Gray (photos). He is currently touring as Puck in English Touring Opera's production of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

David's Plays and Publications

Stage Plays

The Killing of Mr Toad – the extraordinary true story behind The Wind in the Willows.
War! Lies! And a Packet of Fags! – the Great War and its aftermath–the story of “Woodbine Willie”.
Kolbe's Gift – the inspiring true story of St. Maximilian Kolbe and his self-sacrifice in Auschwitz.
The Castaway – a one-man play about William Cowper, who wrote a comic masterpiece, a favourite hymn and died in lonely despair.

Stage Plays for Children

Co-written with David Conville:

The Wind in the Willows – adapted from Kenneth Grahame’s novel–all the fun of the famous story with tuneful songs by celebrated composer, Carl Davis.
Kids of Sherwood – kids on an outing are whisked back in time to the days of Robin Hood.
Kids of the Wild West – kids in a theme park tamper with a time machine which plunges them into an adventure of the American West.
The Curse of the Egyptian Mummy – adapted from the novel by Pat Hutchins – a body, a deadly snake, the Cub Scouts’ weekend in the country is fun-filled and action-packed.
The Mona Lisa Mystery – adapted from the novel by Pat Hutchins–cops, crooks and disguises galore on a school trip to Paris.

Plays Broadcast on BBC Radio 4

The Killing of Mr Toad (1984) – adapted by David from his stage play.
Walk or Die (1992) – British troops escaping from Burma in 1942 have more than mountains and mosquitos to contend with.
Waste of Glory (1994) – David’s stage play about the First World War padre “Woodbine Willie” adapted for radio.
Death of a Village (2003) – the village of Hallsands (Devon) is sacrificed to the sea for greed and political expediency.
So Great a Crime (2004) – the tragic true story of Hector MacDonald, a great Scottish soldier who was decorated but later denounced.

More about David Gooderson's Radio Plays

Publications

My Dearest Mouse – The Wind in the Willows letters by Kenneth Grahame. Introduction and notes by David Gooderson. Pavilion Books, 1988
The Curse of the Egyptian Mummy – adapted by David Conville and David Gooderson from the novel by Pat Hutchins. Samuel French, 1993 (copies available from Amazon and Samuel French)
The Killing of Mr Toad – stage play by David Gooderson. Finborough Theatre, 2009 (Copies available via e-mail link below).

More about the Publications

To Contact David

e-Mail: david@david-gooderson.co.uk