About David : Author & Playwright

David was born in Oxford, England, in 1959. He graduated from London’s City University with a BA (Hons) Degree in Journalism. In addition to this he has a Teaching Degree from Lancaster University and a Masters Degree in the Arts from the University of Central Lancashire. He continues his professional development with courses at the University of Oxford. Prior to this he attended London Theatre Arts to study drama, and then worked extensively in the performing arts industry as a playwright, producer and director. His stage plays include the award winning Forever Nineteen, After The Tone and The Post Card – which enjoyed London and New York productions, as well as touring nationally in the United Kingdom. His most recent play Naturally Insane! The Life of Dan Leno explores the Victorian comedian’s life and work and toured in the UK prior to performances in London’s West End at the Criterion Theatre in 2021 starring BGT finalist Steve Royle.
David was the script advisor and guest interviewee for the week on BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week dedicated to Ivor Novello. With Donald Macleod, Rosy Runciman and Billy Differ. Produced by Luke Whitlock for the BBC. His biography [My Life & In Search of Ruritania] on Novello, along with Novello’s own autobiography My Life, was published as a special edition in 2023: “David is the absolute authority on Novello, and this new edition including Novello’s own My Life is a bit of a must…” [Alexandra Coghlan – The Sunday Times]
His involvement in adapting the libretto for Ivor Novello’s 1935 musical Glamorous Night resulted in him directing the 50th Anniversary Concert to celebrate the life and work of Ivor Novello at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London’s West End. Subsequently he has worked as the Ivor Novello Consultant on Julian Fellowes and Robert Altman’s Oscar and BAFTA winning film Gosford Park, and contributed to the BBC Documentary on the life of Novello, The Handsomest Man in Britain. He is the author of In Search of Ruritania, a biography on Ivor Novello – featured on BBC Radio 2 with Don Black as part of the Great War Centenary celebrations 2014. Anything But Merry! The Life and Times of Lily Elsie a biogrpahy of the Edwardian actress and singer who found fame in Lehar’s The Merry Widow; the novel The Mistletoe Haunting – Legend of Minster Lovell, and Mildred on the Marne: Mildred Aldrich, Front-line Witness 1914-1918. He is currently developing a new play based on the relationship between opera composer Puccini and his wife titled Elvira & I – Puccini’s Scandalous Passions! which had its world premiere at Lytham Festival 2017 with critical praise, and also a play based on the relationship between historian A.L. Rowse and Adam von Trott titled Other People’s Fu**ing – An Oxford Affair. He has most recently been the script advisor and guest of the week on the BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week programmes dedicated for the first time to Ivor Novello, broadcast as a Christmas Special for 2016. He was also a consultant on the BBC Antques Roadshow for an Entertainment Special due to be broadcast later in 2017.