Photo credit: Louis Catliff

 
​James McDermott is a writer and teacher based in East Anglia represented by Micheline Steinberg Associates.
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James graduated from the University of East Anglia with a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (2022-2024), MA (Distinction) in Scriptwriting (2015-2016) and Starred First Class BA Honours in Scriptwriting and Performance (2012-2015). James was the recipient of UEA's Malcolm Bradbury MA in Scriptwriting Bursary 2015.

James also trained on The Royal Court Writers Group, Soho Theatre's Writers Lab, Hampstead Theatre's Inspire: The Next Playwright Programme, Criterion Theatre's New Writing Group, Menagerie Theatre's Young Writers' Workshop, Hat Trick Productions Your Voice Your Story Scheme and BBC's EastEnders Writers Shadow Scheme.

James has written several plays for venues across the country. These include 'It Comes In Waves' (Eastern Angles/Seagull Theatre) which will tour the East Of England in 2026, 'Jab' (Finborough Theatre/Park Theatre; starring Kacey Ainsworth; nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award for Best New Play; Broadway World UK/West End Award for Best New Production of A Play; London Pub Theatres Standing Ovation Award), 'More... Ghost Stories By Candlelight' (HighTide/East of England Tour/Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), 'Acid's Reign' (Vaults Festival 2023; starring Scarlett Harlett from RuPaul's Drag Race UK), 'The Birds & The Bees' (New Wolsey/UK Tour), 'Shanty' (Sheringham Little Theatre), 'Robin Good: The Politico-Panto' (Norwich Playhouse), 'Ghosted' (Sheringham Little Theatre/Out There Festival 2021), 'Time & Tide' (Park Theatre/East of England Tour; nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award for Best New Play; longlisted for the Bruntwood, Papatango & Verity Bargate Playwriting Prizes; shortlisted for the Snoo Wilson Playwriting Prize), 'Rubber Ring' (Pleasance Islington/UK Tour; Winner of Pulse Festival's Suitcase Prize) and 'Fast Food' (Lyric Hammersmith Gala; starring Jude Law). 'Jab', 'Time & Tide' and 'Rubber Ring' are published by Samuel French and 'Shanty' is published by Polari Press. Signed copies of James's published play texts can be purchased here.

James has written multiple episodes of BBC One soap opera 'EastEnders' and audio plays for BBC Radio 4. His short films include 'Clause', which was nominated for Best East Anglian Film at Norwich Film Festival 2023 and was part of the Official Selection at BAFTA Qualifying Norwich Film Festival 2023, Italy's Lover's Film Festival 2023, Queer Wave Cyprus LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2023 and Beijing Queer Film Festival 2023. You can read more about James's work as a scriptwriter here.

As a poet, James is widely published in journals and magazines including Poetry Wales, The North, Butcher's Dog, Magma, Ink Sweat & Tears and 14 Poems. His poetry collections include 'Father Myself' (Nine Arches Press), 'Wild Life' (Nine Arches Press; longlisted for the New Angle Prize 2024 and shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Award 2023) and the spoken word collection 'Manatomy' (Burning Eye Books; longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2021). James's pamphlets include 'Erased' (Polari Press) and 'Green Apple Red' (Broken Sleep Books). James was commissioned by Netflix's Heartstopper to write new poem 'Fizz' which featured in Series 2 Episode 7 of the show. You can read more about James's poetry here and purchase signed copies of published poetry collections here.

James is a lecturer in creative writing at The University of East Anglia, tutor for National Theatre's New Views Programme and an Arvon writing tutor. James has designed and delivered scriptwriting courses for Norwich Theatre Royal, Marina Theatre Lowestoft and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Freelance, James teaches creative writing online and in person for venues and organisations nationwide, including Creative Arts East, Norfolk Library Service, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Queer Britain. James is currently writing a handbook on scriptwriting craft as part of Story Machines' You Are A Writer series, due for publication in 2026. You can read more about James's teaching work here.

James also has experience working as a dramaturg on other writers plays. These include Tia Fisher's stage adaptation of her YA novel 'Crossing The Line' (Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2025), Chloe Yates' 'Spring And Other Things' (Norwich Arts Centre/Old Red Lion Theatre, 2025) and Ashton Owen's 'Outskirts' (East of England tour, 2021). You can contact James about freelance dramaturgy work here.

James is currently a Trustee of the Board at Creative Arts East and a Trustee of the Board at Holt Art Projects. James is a former trustee of Suffolk's INK Festival. In 2022, James received the Norfolk Arts Award's Special Recognition Award for services to arts in East Anglia.

​*****

"His eye, tone, language, wit, insights and power of expression are simply magnificent" Stephen Fry

"I love his writing. Full of life, love and LOLZ!"
Jonathan Harvey, Playwright & Screenwriter

"A very talented playwright... His plays are notable for their extraordinary mixture of wit, maturity and a zest for dialogue. Each piece I have read of his has grown in craft yet remained true to his core talents of emotional candour, humane characterisation and great comic verve. He has a great future as a playwright"
Steve Waters, Playwright

​"James has got naturally funny bones and captures a sense of truthfulness in his storytelling that completely charms the audience. James is a rising star and any theatre would be lucky to have him!"
Lara Singer, Comedy Development Editor at Big Talk Productions

"Remember his name: James McDermott. His precise and glittering use of language and his sympathy and humour grip the audience"
Eastern Daily Press