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 musicals to documentaries, spectacular arena shows to classic radio dramas. Born in Kent, he now lives in West London.
Interviews…
June 2024.
The Le Carre Cast with Jeff Quest. Shaun talks about dramatising the George Smiley novels for Radio 4, The Lord of the Rings and many other things.
November 2022
Look Mum No Hands podcast, with Leighton James House, talking about Are You As Nervous As I Am, life, the universe and everything
2021
Little Did You Know. Shaun talks Trouser Bar, Lord of the Rings, Ben Hur Live and sexuality with David McGillivray.
2019
Author’s Studio. Short interview from the Harrogate Crime Writer’s Festival, introduced by Peter James.
Coming Up…
The Forsyte Saga
Shaun’s stage adaptation, co-written with Lin Coghlan, produced by Troupe Productions and directed by Joshua Roche will play at London’s Park Theatre from October to December 2024.
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 2024-2025
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 hits Auckland in November 2024 and Sydney from January 2025. More tour details to be announced in August.
Picture You Dead
Shaun’s seventh Peter James stage adaptation, set in the murky depths of the art world, will tour the UK from February 2025, produced by Joshua Andrews and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle.
The Archers
From October 2024, Shaun is delighted to be joining the writing team for the BBC’s iconic radio soap.
The Looking Glass Wars
Shaun is working with 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.
The Paradine Case
Shaun’s courtroom drama, The Paradine Case, freely adapted from the novel by Robert Hichens, will tour the UK in 2025 under the management of BKL.
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.
Maddie
A new, revised version of Shaun’s first musical, co-written with Stephen Keeling and Steven Dexter, played the New York Theatre Festival in late November 2023 prior to an Off Broadway run at the Players Theatre, New York in May 2025.
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.