Shaun McKenna is an award-winning British dramatist and lyricist. Prolific and versatile, he is known for both original dramas and adaptations.
His credits range from theatre plays to prime-time TV, acclaimed West End and international musicals to documentaries, spectacular arena shows to classic radio dramas. Born in Kent, he now lives in West London.
Current and Forthcoming…
The Forsyte Saga
Shaun’s stage adaptation, co-written with Lin Coghlan, produced by Troupe Productions and directed by Joshua Roche played at London’s Park Theatre from October to December 2024 and will have a future life in late 2025 at an exciting venue to be announced in May.
The cast is led by Joseph Millson as Soames, Fiona Hampton as Irene and Flora Spencer Longhurst as Fleur.
The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale
World Tour
Paul Hart’s beautiful and intimate production of Shaun’s Tolkien-based musical, first seen at the Watermill Theatre in 2023, played the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre from July to September 2024. The international tour hit Auckland in November 2024 and Sydney from January 2025 with stops in Melbourne, Perth, the Gold Coast and Singapore in the spring and summer of 2025. It will return to the UK briefly in October 2025 before commencing a European tour.
Picture You Dead
Shaun’s seventh Peter James stage adaptation, set in the murky depths of the art world, tours the UK until July 2025, produced by Joshua Andrews and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle. the cast is led by Peter Ash, Fiona Wade and George Rainsford with Ore Aduba joining later in the run.
Maddie
A new, revised version of Shaun’s first musical, co-written with Stephen Keeling and Steven Dexter, begins an Off Broadway run at the Players Theatre, New York in May 2025. The show won Best Score at the 2023 New York Theater Festival.
The Archers
In October 2024, Shaun was delighted to join the writing team for the BBC’s iconic continuing drama.
The Looking Glass Wars
Shaun is working with Pippa Cleary, Frank Beddor and Teresa Lin on the development of an exciting large scale musical based on this Alice in Wonderland origin story. More details to follow.
Exhibitionists
This “dazzling” new romantic comedy, co-written with Andrew Van Sickle, about the misadventures of five gay men in California opened the new Kings Head Theatre in Islington in January 2024 and is now in development as a movie.
Gone With The Wind
Shaun’s new three-part adaptation for BBC Radio 4, directed by Tracey Neale, will be broadcast in March 2026.
Bette and Joan and Baby Jane
Shaun has co-written the Book with Tracy-Ann Oberman for this musical about the famously feuding film stars. Lyrics by Nikki Racklin, Music by James Cleeve. After a successful presentation in February 2024, the first production is expected in 2025.