Alexi Kaye Campbell (born 1966) is a
Greek-British playwright and actor. In 2009, his play ''
The Pride'' was given the
Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre.
Personal life
Alexi Kaye Campbell was born Alexi Komondouros in
Athens, Greece
Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
, to a Greek father and British mother. The name Campbell comes from his mother's family. He was brought up in Athens and went to Greek primary school, then
Campion School and St Lawrence College, the British International schools in Athens. After graduating from
Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
with a degree in English and American Literature, Kaye Campbell went on to study acting at the
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Kaye Campbell has lived with his partner, the director
Dominic Cooke since 1997.
Career
Acting
Before turning to writing Kaye Campbell worked for many years as an actor. His work included seasons at the
Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and with
Oxford Stage Company,
Chichester Festival Theatre, the
Royal Court Theatre,
Hampstead Theatre and with
Shared Experience.
Writing
Alexi's first play ''Death in Whitbridge'' was performed as a rehearsed reading at the
Finborough Theatre
The Finborough Theatre is a fifty-seat theatre in the West Brompton area of London (part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) under artistic director Neil McPherson. The theatre presents new British writing, as well as UK and world p ...
in London as part of the Vibrant Playwrights Festival.
In November 2008 Kaye Campbell's second play, ''
The Pride'', was produced for the
Royal Court Theatre Upstairs for which he was awarded
The Critics' Circle Prize for Most Promising Playwright and the
John Whiting Award for Best New Play. The production, directed by
Jamie Lloyd, was also awarded a
Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an affiliate theatre. It starred
Bertie Carvel,
JJ Feild,
Lyndsey Marshal and Tim Steed.
In January 2010 ''The Pride'' transferred to America and was produced for the
MCC Theater in New York City, directed by
Joe Mantello. The cast included
Ben Whishaw,
Andrea Riseborough,
Hugh Dancy and
Adam James. The play won the GLAAD award for Best New Play. Since then, 'The Pride' has been produced in many theatres worldwide, including in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Greece, and Germany.
Kaye Campbell's third play, ''Apologia'', was produced at
The Bush Theatre in the summer of 2009, directed by
Josie Rourke. ''Apologia'' was short-listed for The John Whiting Award and nominated for the
Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for Best Theatre Play. 'Apologia' was also produced at the MTC Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, with
Robyn Nevin playing the part of Kristin. It was also produced at the
Bungakuza Theatre Company in Japan.
Kaye Campbell's fourth play ''The Faith Machine'' premiered at the
Royal Court Theatre in August 2011 directed by
Jamie Lloyd and starring
Hayley Atwell and
Ian McDiarmid. It was also produced at the
Bungakuza Theatre in Tokyo.
His fifth play ''
Bracken Moor'' premiered at the
Tricycle Theatre, London in June 2013, directed by Polly Teale.
In Autumn 2013 a revival of ''The Pride'', directed by Jamie Lloyd, enjoyed a successful run in the West End before embarking on a national tour.
His sixth play, ''Sunset at the Villa Thalia'', premiered at the National Theatre in London in May 2016, in a production directed by Simon Godwin and starring
Ben Miles,
Elizabeth McGovern
Elizabeth Lee McGovern (born July 18, 1961) is an American actress. She has received many awards and nominations, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, three Golden Globe Award nominations, and one Academy Award nomination.
Born in Evanston ...
,
Sam Crane and
Pippa Nixon.
In August 2017 a revival of ''Apologia'' was produced at The Trafalgar Studios in London, directed by
Jamie Lloyd and starring
Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing (born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard; February 13, 1944) is an American actress. List of awards and nominations received by Stockard Channing, Her accolades include three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a nomination for an Acade ...
. In September 2018 ''Apologia'' will also be produced at the
Roundabout Theatre Company in New York.
Kaye Campbell's first film script, ''
Woman in Gold'', produced by
BBC Films
BBC Film (formerly BBC Films) is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It was founded on 18 June 1990, and has produced or co-produced some of the most successful British films of recent years, including ''Truly, Madly, Deeply (film), Truly, ...
and
The Weinstein Company, was directed by
Simon Curtis and stars
Helen Mirren and
Ryan Reynolds. It was the highest earning independent film of 2015.
Works
Plays
*''Death in Whitbridge'' (2008) – Finborough Theatre, London
*''
The Pride'' (2008) – Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, London, 2008; MCC Theater, New York, 2010; Crucible Theatre (Studio Theatre), Sheffield, 2011
*''Apologia'' (2009) – The Bush Theatre, London, 2009; Laura Pels Theatre, NYC, 2018
*''The Faith Machine'' (2011) – Royal Court Theatre Downstairs, London, 2011
*''Bracken Moor'' (2013) – Shared Experience & Tricycle Theatre, London, 2013
*''Sunset at the Villa Thalia ''(2016) National Theatre, London, 2016
Films
*''
Woman in Gold'' (2015)
Awards and nominations
External links
''The Standard''''The Guardian''
Take Pride in an Ideal''Metro''
'Campbell Leads Court Slate'''Variety''
'The Pride @ The Studio'''Sheffield Theatres''
The 20 Highest Grossing Indies of 2015 (A Running List)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Alexi Kaye
Living people
Greek people of British descent
Greek screenwriters
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumni
Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Greek LGBTQ writers
Writers from Athens
British LGBTQ dramatists and playwrights
1966 births
Male dramatists and playwrights
British male screenwriters
21st-century Greek male writers
21st-century British screenwriters
21st-century Greek dramatists and playwrights
21st-century British LGBTQ people