Writing
Jim Cartwright
Born 1958-06-27 · Farnworth, Lancashire, UK
Jim Cartwright was born in Farnworth, Lancashire in 1958 and educated at Harper Green Secondary Modern School, Farnworth. His plays are consistently performed around the world, where they have won numerous awards, and been translated into 30 languages. His first play, Road (1986), opened at the Royal Court in 1986, and was subsequently revived that same year and again in 1987, before being taken on a nationwide tour. Road won the Samuel Beckett Award, Drama Magazine’s Best New Play Award, and was joint winner of the Plays And Players Award and The George Devine Award. Jim made his directorial debut with Road at The Royal Exchange Theatre in 1995. He also wrote and directed I Licked a Slag’s Deodorant (1996), for the Royal Court at The Ambassador’s Theatre in London’s West End in 1996; Prize Night for the Royal Exchange Theatre (1999), and Hard Fruit (2000) for the Royal Court Theatre in 2000. Jim’s radio work includes: Baths (BBC, 1987). His television work includes: Road (BBC, 1987, winner of The Golden Nymph Award for best film); Vroom (Channel 4, 1988, selected as centrepiece at The London Film Festival); Wedded (BBC, 1990), and June (BBC, 1990). Jim produced and wrote Village (Channel 4, 1996); two films, Strumpet and Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise (BBC, 2001); and wrote and directed Johnny Shakespeare (BBC, 2007).
Acting credits
Behind the camera
6.5After the death of her father, Little Voice or LV becomes a virtual recluse, never going out and hardly ever saying a word. She just sits in her bedroom listening to her father's collection of old records of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and various other famous female singers. But at night time, LV sings, imitating these great singers with surprising accuracy. One night she is overheard by one of her mother's boyfriends, who happens to be a talent agent. He manages to convince her that her talent is special and arranges for her to perform at the local night club, but several problems arise.
Little Voice
1998
5.3Tommy is a vacuum cleaner salesman gripped by the fever of closing the deal. He lives on puffa rice stored in his glove compartment, listens to motivation tapes of his own voice shouting 'Sell, sell, fucking sell' and his punters are up to their eyes in debt. Even Tommy admits his 'soul's in holes'. He's sure the Golden Vac (the holy grail of vacuum salesmanship) can be his - if only he hadn't been saddled with Pete, a meek sales trainee trying to help his girlfriend quit stripping.
Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise
2001
6.5Two young men and a sultry divorcee flee their drab hometown existence, taking to the road in a bubblegum pink chevrolet.
Vroom
1988
7.0Surreal drama about seven old people living in the same bed, by Jim Cartwright.
Bed
1995
7.0A husband drives throughout the night on a voyage of self-discovery, while his wife waits at home, raking over the ashes of their marriage as their child sleeps in the next room.
Wedded
1990
NRAlone in the sanctuary of her small bedroom, Little Voice fills the air with pitch‑perfect renditions of her deceased dad's prized record collection of the great divas, from Judy Garland to Billie Holiday. But when her mother Mari's latest fling, local wheeler dealer Ray, hears her sing he's certain he's struck gold. Will Little Voice be pushed into a spotlight she never asked for? Francesca Mills is Little Voice, Jill Halfpenny is Mari, and Paul Chuckle is Mr Boo in this major new production of Jim Cartwright's modern classic, directed by National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director Robert Hastie, performed at the Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre in London, UK.
National Theatre at Home: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
2027
NRWhen June receives a cassette from her wartime GI lover it stirs up memories and feelings that she's been trying to suppress for 40 years. 'You made me feel I was in the movies, how was I supposed to get back to normal life after that?'
June
1990
5.1Strayman, a spontaneous poet, is landlord to a pack of stray dogs. Unable to resist another of life's strays, he hooks up with Strumpet, a shy, homeless girl with an extraordinary gift for music. After Strayman's neighbour overhears them singing, the three set off for London - Strayman's dogs in tow - in search of fame, fortune, and Top Of The Pops.
Strumpet
2001
7.2A view of the inhabitants of a derelict road in Manchester, unsatisfied with their lives and routines. A young man locks himself away from the world. An older woman flirts with a soldier on leave. Two men invite two girls into an empty house.
Road
1987
NRRon and Tina's lives are changed when long lost friend Nina calls, reawakening memories of when Ron was the charismatic 'King of the Teds' and both women loved him. A painful question carried for forty years will finally be answered.
King of the Teds
—
NRRon and Tina's lives are changed when long lost friend Nina calls, reawakening memories of when Ron was the charismatic 'King of the Teds' and both women loved him. A painful question carried for forty years will finally be answered.
King of the Teds
—
9.0"The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" - Desperately missing her dead father, Little Voice spends her time locked in her bedroom listening to his old record collection and perfecting astonishing impersonations of famous divas including Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Dusty Springfield. When her mother Mari starts dating small-time club agent Ray Say, she thinks he's her last chance for a better life.
Stjärnan i det blå
1994

