David Lan
David is an English playwright, filmmaker and theatre director. Since 2000 he has been artistic director of the Young Vic theatre in London’s South Bank. He was writer in residence at the Royal Court Theatre from 1995 to 1997. At the Young Vic, he led the campaign to rebuild the theatre which reopened to much acclaim in October 2006.
He also initiated the Genesis Directors’ Project, the Jerwood Directors Awardand the Young Vic Award. In addition to his many plays, libretti, and films, he is the author of the non-fiction work Guns and Rain: Guerrillas & Spirit Mediums in Zimbabwe (1985) [1] about Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence from colonial rule. Some of his stage works reflect his academic interest in aspects of African religion, including spiritual possession and cargo cults. He has also written and directed a number of documentaries for the BBC, mostly set in Africa.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of the things I’ve done at the theatre I run if I hadn’t been able to talk to people who’ve done similar things and get their advice and draw on their expertise.
Creative people always value the creativity they see in others - and, as everyone of us is creative in some way or other, focusing on creativity is a way of bringing all sorts of unexpected people in a virtuous circle.”