# Barrie Keeffe > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barrie_Keeffe > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barrie_Keeffe.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrie_Keeffe > Source revision: 1351817552 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English dramatist and screenwriter (1945–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use British English|date=October 2015}} __NOTOC__ {{Infobox writer | name = Barrie Colin Keeffe | image = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1945|10|31}} | birth_place = [London](/source/London), England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2019|12|10|1945|10|31}} | death_place = London, England | education = [East Ham Grammar School](/source/Langdon_School%2C_Newham) | notableworks = ''[The Long Good Friday](/source/The_Long_Good_Friday)'', ''Barbarians'', ''Gimme Shelter'', ''[Sus](/source/Sus_(film))'' | spouse = [Verity Bargate](/source/Verity_Bargate) (d. 1981); Jacky Stoller (m. 2012) | awards = Paris Critics [Prix Revelations](/source/International_Critics'_Week), [Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award](/source/Mystery_Writers_of_America) | children = Sam Proud (1971); Tom Proud (1973) }} '''Barrie Colin Keeffe''' (31 October 1945 – 10 December 2019) was an English [dramatist](/source/dramatist) and screenwriter. Best known for his screenplay for the gangster classic ''[The Long Good Friday](/source/The_Long_Good_Friday)'' (1980), starring [Bob Hoskins](/source/Bob_Hoskins) and [Helen Mirren](/source/Helen_Mirren), Keeffe demonstrated an interest in a variety of social and political issues, including disaffected youth and criminality.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/dec/11/barrie-keeffe-obituary|title = Barrie Keeffe obituary|first=Michael |last=Coveney|newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)|date = 11 December 2019}} ==Career== Born in London, Keeffe grew up in [Forest Gate](/source/Forest_Gate), in the east of the city, the son of Edward Keeffe, a telecommunications engineer, and his wife, Constance (née Marsh). His ancestors, the O'Keeffes, had arrived from [County Cork](/source/County_Cork) in the mid-19th century. He had a sister, Sue. Keeffe was educated at [East Ham Grammar School](/source/Langdon_School%2C_Newham).{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/barrie-keeffe-death-cause-age-writer-film-tv-theatre-gangster-long-good-friday-east-london-a9250396.html|title=Barrie Keeffe: East End writer who hit big with The Long Good Friday|first=Garth|last=Cartwright|newspaper=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)|date=30 December 2019}} During the holidays he acted with the [National Youth Theatre](/source/National_Youth_Theatre). From 1964 to 1975, he worked as a journalist with ''The Stratford Express'' (which closed in 2011).{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/oct/12/memories-of-a-local-weekly-renowned-for-its-training-of-journalists|title = Memories of a local weekly renowned for its training of journalists|first=Roy|last=Greenslade|author-link=Roy Greenslade|newspaper=The Guardian|date = 12 October 2016}} Some of his writing work, including ''The Long Good Friday'', was inspired by stories he encountered as a journalist, and while drinking at the [Two Puddings](/source/Two_Puddings) pub on Stratford Broadway. He published his debut novel, ''The Gadabout'', in 1969.[Ned Chaillet](/source/Ned_Chaillet), "Barrie (Colin) Keeffe", in K. A. Berney, ed., ''Contemporary British Dramatists'', Gale, 1994, pp. 387–91. His first television play, ''The Substitute'', was produced in 1972, and his first theatre play, ''Only a Game'', the following year. He became a full-time dramatic author in 1975. He was writer-in-residence at the [Shaw Theatre](/source/Shaw_Theatre) in 1977, resident playwright with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Company) in 1978, and associate writer at the [Theatre Royal Stratford East](/source/Theatre_Royal_Stratford_East) from 1986 to 1991. During that period, Keeffe delivered "fifteen years of solid achievement at the top of his game". In 2007, he took the helm at the Collaldra Writers School and Retreat, [Venice](/source/Venice). In 2011, he became writer in residence at London's [Kingston University](/source/Kingston_University). Keeffe's plays have been produced in 26 countries, and his screenwriting credits include ''[The Long Good Friday](/source/The_Long_Good_Friday)'' (1981) and ''[Sus](/source/Sus_(film))'' (2010), an adaptation of his 1979 play of the same name. He was represented by The Agency, London. ==Themes and revivals== Keeffe's writing explores social and political issues, including unemployment, [institutionalised racism](/source/institutionalised_racism) in the police (''Sus''), and class (''Gimme Shelter''). ''Better Times'' focuses on the 1921 [Poplar Rates Rebellion](/source/Poplar_Rates_Rebellion).Chambers, Colin (ed.), ''The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre'', A&C Black, 2006, p. 415. In ''Barbarians'', Keeffe strove to "capture the energy of punk".{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BARBARIANS-By-Barrie-Keeffe-To-Be-Staged-In-Birthplace-of-Punk-20150907 |title=BARBARIANS by Barrie Keeffe To Be Staged In Birthplace of Punk|first=Carrie|last= Dunn|website=[Broadway World](/source/Broadway_World)|date= 7 September 2015}} ''Sus'' was revived at the [Young Vic](/source/Young_Vic) in 2009, and toured the UK in 2010. The ''Barbarians'' trilogy was revived in London in 2012 and 2015 by Tooting Arts Club, and at the Young Vic, also in 2015.[http://www.mllx.co.uk/barbarians "Barbarians"], ''Matt Leventhall website''.[Greenslade, Roy](/source/Roy_Greenslade) (7 October 2015), [https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/oct/07/barrie-keeffe-a-loss-to-journalism-but-what-a-gift-to-playwriting "Barrie Keeffe, a loss to journalism but what a gift to playwriting"], ''The Guardian''.Battersby, Matilda (18 April 2012), [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/keeffes-barbarians-tip-up-in-tooting-bringing-astonishing-relevance-7657784.html "Keeffe's Barbarians tip up in Tooting bringing 'astonishing relevance{{'"}}], ''The Independent''.[Clapp, Susannah](/source/Susannah_Clapp) (18 October 2015), [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/18/barbarians-trilogy-barrie-keeffe-review-soho-theatre "Barbarians review – still angry after all these years"], ''[The Observer](/source/The_Observer)'' ==Teaching and UN work== Keeffe taught dramatic writing at [City University, London](/source/City_University%2C_London) (2002–06), was Judith J. Wilson Fellow at [Christ's College, Cambridge](/source/Christ's_College%2C_Cambridge) (2003–04), and a visiting lecturer and patron of Writing for Performance at [Ruskin College, Oxford](/source/Ruskin_College) (2003–04). In 1995, the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations)' fiftieth anniversary, he served as a [United Nations Ambassador](/source/Permanent_Representative_to_the_United_Nations). ==Honours and awards== In 1978, Keeffe received the Paris Critics [Prix Revelations](/source/International_Critics'_Week), and the [Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award](/source/Mystery_Writers_of_America) in 1982. In 2010, he was made an [Honorary Doctor of Letters](/source/Doctor_of_Letters) at [Warwick University](/source/Warwick_University). ==Personal life and death== Keefe was married four times. His first marriage was to Dee Truman, a social worker, from 1969 until their divorce 10 years later. His second marriage was to the novelist and theatre director [Verity Bargate](/source/Verity_Bargate), who died in 1981. After her death, Keeffe was guardian to her two sons, whom he brought up. His third marriage was to Julia Lindsay, a pop music agent, from 1983 until their divorce in 1993. In 2012, he married the film and television producer Jacky Stoller. Keeffe died on 10 December 2019, following a brief undisclosed illness. He was 74.{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Stewart |title=Barrie Keeffe, Writer of Classic British Gangster Movie 'The Long Good Friday,' Dies at 74 |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/barrie-keeffe-dead-dies-screenwriter-the-long-good-friday-1203431141/ |website=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine)) |accessdate=10 December 2019 |date=10 December 2019}} ==Works== ===Theatre plays=== *''Only a Game'' (1973) *''A Sight of Glory'' (1975) *''Scribes'' (1975) *''Here Comes the Sun'' (1976) *''Gimme Shelter'' (1977) *''A Mad World My Masters'' (1977, 1984) *''Barbarians, a trilogy consisting of Killing Time, Abide with Me and In the City '' (1977) *''[Frozen Assets](/source/Frozen_Assets_(play))'' (1978) *''Sus'' (1979) *''Bastard Angel'' (1980) *''She's So Modern'' (1980) *''Black Lear'' (1980) *''[Chorus Girls](/source/Chorus_Girls_(musical))'' (1981) *''Better Times'' (1985) *''King of England'' (1988) *''My Girl'' (1989) *''Not Fade Away'' (1990) *''Wild Justice'' (1990) *''I Only Want to Be With You'' (1995) *''The Long Good Friday'' (1997) *''Shadows on the Sun'' (2001) *''Still Killing Time'' (2006) ===Film and TV=== *''Substitute'' (1972) *''Not Quite Cricket'' (1977) *''Gotcha'' (1977) *''Nipper'' (1977) *''Champions'' (1978) *''Hanging Around'' (1978) *''Waterloo Sunset'' (1979) *''King'' (1984) ===Television series=== *''No Excuses'' (1983) ===Radio plays=== *''Uncle Jack'' (1975) *''Pigeon Skyline'' (1976) *''Only a Game''BBC Genome, [https://web.archive.org/web/20191229141410/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/762aa5dec33f470787da0dbae784a176 Only a Game by Barrie Keeffe], BBC Radio 4, 29 September 1976. (1976) *''Heaven Scent''BBC Genome, [https://web.archive.org/web/20141027070050/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/414e63a920754038a6afc98ffc8e8c5e Heaven Scent by Barrie Keeffe], Just Before Midnight, BBC Radio 4, 1979. (1979) (Won a Giles Cooper Award for 1979) *''Anything Known'' (1980) *''Frozen Assets''BBC Genome, [https://web.archive.org/web/20191227172531/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/95dabfd7499946e5a2c3e705c33981a5 Frozen Assets], BBC Radio 3, 30 January 1987. (1987) *''Paradise''BBC Genome, [https://web.archive.org/web/20191227171719/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f3fe6e3026b5446a84893db56347e006 Paradise by Barrie Keeffe], BBC Radio 3, 19 December 1989. (1989) *''My Girl''BBC Genome, [https://web.archive.org/web/20191227174707/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e142bab4445c4897bb723e3c6d7d5857 My Girl by Barrie Keeffe], BBC Radio 4, 12 October 1992. (19992 *''On the Eve of the Millennium[https://web.archive.org/web/20230407185828/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f66d59527a284d7094fe5990953e0e9f On the Eve of the Millennium], BBC Radio 4, The Friday Play, 29 October 1999.'' (1999) *''Feng Shui and Me'' (2001) *''The Five of Us[https://web.archive.org/web/20230407185827/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bbb96eb3c2434e86aaa4672cf4dc09d9 The Five of Us], BBC Radio 4, 20 December 2002.'' (2002) ===Film=== *''[The Long Good Friday](/source/The_Long_Good_Friday)'' (1981) *''[Sus](/source/Sus_(film))'' (2010) ===Novels=== *''Gadabout'' (1969) *''No Excuses'' (1983) ===Theatre adaptations and direction=== *''A Certain Vincent'' (1975) *''A Gentle Spirit'' (1981) ==Footnotes== {{reflist|30em}} ==References== *''[Who's Who](/source/Who's_Who)'' ==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0444423|name=Barrie Keeffe}} * Sheila Johnston, [https://www.theartsdesk.com/film/interview-barrie-keeffe-sus-long-good-friday-and-londons-changing-east-end "Interview: Barrie Keeffe on Sus, The Long Good Friday and London's Changing East End"], theartsdesk.com, 21 April 2010. {{Authority control}} {{Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Keeffe, Barrie}} Category:1945 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Academics of City, University of London Category:English dramatists and playwrights Category:English male dramatists and playwrights Category:English male journalists Category:English male screenwriters Category:English people of Irish descent Category:English screenwriters Category:National Youth Theatre members Category:People from East Ham Category:People from Forest Gate --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Barrie Keeffe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrie_Keeffe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrie_Keeffe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.