The Way to Write for the Stage

by Tom Gallacher

122 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1989

About the author

Tom Gallagher was is a Scottish journalist, playwright and novelist. After his schooling he trained as a draughtsman and worked at Denny’s Shipyard in Dumbarton (an experience that was to provide him with the source material for his work The Apprentice (1983).

Ultimately, however, Gallagher was more influenced by his mother’s love of language and the spoken word, and began a new career as a journalist - starting work at the Helensburgh Advertiser. Whilst writing professionally and locally, he also wrote a series of articles for the County Reporter which were later published under the title Hunting Shadows.

During his time as a producer with the Dumbarton People’s Theatre, Gallacher discovered that he had a talent for writing plays. In the 1950’s he successfully produced several productions including Harvey, The Glass Menagerie, The Wind and the Rain and A Man for All Seasons. His love of the theatre and his passion for words led him becoming a full time playwright, settling in London for four years before returning to Garelochhead.

Gallagher also wrote for television and was a great proponent for the arts. He was a founding member of The Scottish Society of Playwrights at the Netherbow Theatre; established in response to a need for a co-ordinated voice for playwrights to be heard in Scottish theatre and to act as a playwriting development and promotional agency.