The Writers of Wales Database

GRIFFITHS, DIANA

Cecily Ware Literary Agents, 19c John Spencer Square, Canonbury, London N1 2LZ
Tel: 0207 359 3787
Website: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/dgriffiths.html

Diana Griffiths is an established radio playwright who also writes for stage. Born in Neath, educated at Neath Grammar School, University of Sheffield and University College, Cardiff, she was for many years an English teacher in various comprehensive schools (Head of Department for 6 years). She has been creative writing tutor at Arvon,Ty Newydd, Yorkshire Arts schemes, the Ilkley Festival and to various schools, colleges and writing–groups in Yorkshire and in Wales. In April 2008 the four-part television drama Calon Gaeth which Diana co-wrote with Stan Barstow won a Welsh BAFTA for best drama. This was dramatised from the novel A Small Country by Sian James. She is a member of the Academi Members’ Committee.

BBC Radio 4 Original Plays: 
Parents’ Evening (30 Minute Theatre, 1987)
Set to Rites (Saturday Night Theatre, 1988)
The Hound of the Higginbottoms (Afternoon Theatre, 1988)
The Emperor’s Dream (Afternoon Theatre, 1990)
Out of School (30 Minute Theatre, 1992. Repeated on World Service and BBC Wales)
The Kings’ Hostage (30 Minute Theatre, 1993)
Second Fiddle (30 Minute Theatre, September, 1994)
Quite the Contrary (15 minutes, BBC Wales, January, 1995)

BBC Radio 4 Dramatisations:
Joby by Stan Barstow (Saturday Playhouse, May, 1997)
Flambards by K.M. Peyton (The Saturday Play, April1999)
A Many-Splendoured Thing by Han Suyin (The Saturday Play, July, 2000)
Satisfaction Guaranteed by Isaac Asimov (Afternoon Theatre, 2002)
A Raging Calm by Stan Barstow (Woman’s Hour serial in 10 episodes, 2002)
The Small Mine by Menna Gallie (Afternoon Theatre, April 2003))
Flambards: The Edge of the Cloud (The Saturday Play, August 30th 2003)
Whistle Down The Wind (novel by Mary Hayley Bell; screenplay by Waterhouse & Hall) (The Saturday Play, 6th Sept 2003) (repeated, September 2006)
L’Assommoir by Emile Zola, tr. Tancock (Classic Serial in 3 Episodes, Oct.- Nov., 2004)
Memento Mori by Muriel Spark (Classic Serial in 2 Episodes, May 2006)
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert tr. Margaret Mauldron (Woman’s Hour serial in 10 episodes, September 2006)
Germinal by Emile Zola (Classic Serial in 3 Episodes, January 2007)
The Crowded Street by Winifred Holtby (Woman’s Hour serial in 10 Episodes, August 2007)
Cheri by Colette (Woman’s Hour serial in 5 Episodes, August 2008
Therese Raquin by Emile Zola (Classic Serial in 2 Episodes, April 2009)
Bright Day by J.B.Priestley (Clasic Serial in 2 Ep;isodes, May-June 2010)
A Kind of Loving by Stan Barstow (Woman’s Hour serial in 10 Episodes, July 2010)

Theatre:
Parents’ Evening (1-act stage play) (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, 1987)
The King’s Hostage (full length stage-play) (Theatr Clwyd, rehearsed reading, Sept. 1995)
Who Pays the Piper? (One-act stage play for children) - Winner of Halifax & West Yorkshire Drama Trust Children’s Play Competition, 1995

Television:
Calon Gaeth (4-part drama serial from the novel A Small Country by Sian James. Written in collaboration with Stan Barstow) S4C, January 2007. Awarded a Bafta Cymru for Best Drama, 2008

Publications:
The King’s Hostage (published by DAW, 2000)