List of notable or famous playwrights from England, with bios and photos, including the top playwrights born in England and even some popular playwrights who immigrated to England. If you're trying to find out the names of famous English playwrights then this list is the perfect resource for you. These playwrights are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known playwright from England is included when available.
A factual list, featuring people like Aphra Behn and Ben Elton.
This historic playwrights from England list can help answer the questions "Who are some English playwrights of note?" and "Who are the most famous playwrights from England?" These prominent playwrights of England may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected English playwrights.
Use this list of renowned English playwrights to discover some new playwrights that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}1
T. S. Eliot
Dec. at 77 (1888-1965)Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 1888 – 4 January 1965), "one of the twentieth century's... more2
Ben Elton
Age: 61Birthplace: Catford, London, United Kingdom
Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is a British-Australian comedian, author, playwright,... more3
Anthony Burgess
Dec. at 76 (1917-1993)Birthplace: Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, North West England, United Kingdom, with Dependencies and Territories
John Anthony Burgess Wilson, (; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993), who published under the... more4
Sarah Kane
Dec. at 28 (1971-1999)Birthplace: Brentwood, United Kingdom
Sarah Kane (3 February 1971 – 20 February 1999) was an English playwright who is known for her... more5
Harold Pinter
Dec. at 78 (1930-2008)Birthplace: East End of London, Eurasia, London Borough of Hackney, Greater London, United Kingdom
Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter,... more6
Noël Coward
Dec. at 74 (1899-1973)Birthplace: Teddington, London, United Kingdom
Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer,... more7
Alan Bennett
Age: 86Birthplace: West Yorkshire, Armley, United Kingdom, with Dependencies and Territories, Yorkshire and the Humber
Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934) is an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and author. He... more8
Graham Greene
Dec. at 87 (1904-1991)Birthplace: Berkhamsted, United Kingdom
Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991), better known by his pen name Graham... more9
Robert Bolt
Dec. at 71 (1924-1995)Birthplace: Eurasia, Manchester, Sale, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Robert Oxton Bolt, CBE (15 August 1924 – 21 February 1995) was an English playwright and a... more10
P. G. Wodehouse
Dec. at 94 (1881-1975)Birthplace: Guildford, United Kingdom
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (, WOOD-howss; 15 October 1881 – 14 February 1975) was an... more11
Terence Rattigan
Dec. at 66 (1911-1977)Birthplace: England, London
Sir Terence Mervyn Rattigan, CBE (10 June 1911 – 30 November 1977) was a British dramatist. He... more12
Joe Orton
Dec. at 34 (1933-1967)Birthplace: East Midlands, Eurasia, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, England
John Kingsley Orton (1 January 1933 – 9 August 1967), known under the pen name of Joe Orton,... more13
Peter Wildeblood
Dec. at 76 (1923-1999)Birthplace: Alassio, Italy
Peter Wildeblood (19 May 1923 – 14 November 1999) was an Anglo-Canadian journalist, novelist,... more14
John Dryden
Dec. at 69 (1631-1700)Birthplace: Aldwincle, United Kingdom
John Dryden (; 19 August [O.S. 9 August] 1631 – 12 May [O.S. 1 May] 1700) was an English... more15
Laura Wade
Age: 42Birthplace: Bedford, United Kingdom
Laura Wade (born 16 October 1977) is an English playwright.... more16
Benjamin Zephaniah
Age: 62Birthplace: Handsworth, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (born 15 April 1958) is a British writer, dub poet and... more17
Ben Jonson
Dec. at 65 (1572-1637)Birthplace: Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Benjamin Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet,... more18
William Corlett
Dec. at 67 (1938-2005)Birthplace: Darlington, United Kingdom
William Corlett (8 October 1938 – 16 August 2005), was an English author, best known for his... more19
Charlotte Lennox
Dec. at 74 (1730-1804)Birthplace: Gibraltar, United Kingdom, with Dependencies and Territories
Charlotte Lennox, née Ramsay (c. 1730 – 4 January 1804), was a Scottish author and poet,... more20
Aphra Behn
Dec. at 49 (1640-1689)Birthplace: Canterbury, United Kingdom
Aphra Behn (; bapt. 14 December 1640 – 16 April 1689) was an English playwright, poet,... more
21Jane West
Dec. at 94 (1758-1852)Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Jane West, who published as Prudentia Homespun and Mrs. West, was an English novelist, poet,... more22
John Galsworthy
Dec. at 66 (1867-1933)Birthplace: Kingston upon Thames, London, United Kingdom
John Galsworthy (; 14 August 1867 – 31 January 1933) was an English novelist and playwright.... more23
A. A. Milne
Dec. at 74 (1882-1956)Birthplace: Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
Alan Alexander Milne (; 18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) was an English author, best known... more24
Sebastian Shaw
Dec. at 89 (1905-1994)Birthplace: Holt, United Kingdom
Sebastian Lewis Shaw (29 May 1905 – 23 December 1994) was an English actor, director,... more25
Dorothy L. Sayers
Dec. at 64 (1893-1957)Birthplace: Oxford, United Kingdom
Dorothy Leigh Sayers (; 13 June 1893 – 17 December 1957) was an English crime writer and poet.... more
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