TOPOKANA MARTYRS DAY
A stage comedy concerning a famine relief team in Uganda.
Bush Theatre, London, 1983.
Five other productions inc. Salisbury, New York, Los Angeles and BBC World Service radio.
London theatre critics (‘Plays & Players’): Most Promising Playwright.
THIS PLAY IS AVAILABLE AS A STUPOR MUNDI paper back and e-book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online sellers.
Top image: David Threlfall and Jabu Mbalu in the original 1983 London production. Photo by Nobby Clarke. Below: the Salisbury Production 1987, photo by Peter Brown.
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FREDERICK II: FOUR CELEBRATED EXPERIMENTS
A tragi-comedy about the life and scientific interests of the 12th century Emperor at his court in Sicily.
The lead role at the first performance in London was played by Tom Wilkinson.
Public readings:
Bush Theatre, London, 1985.
Los Angeles Actors Theatre, 1985.
Tron Theatre, Glasgow, 1996.
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DOWN THE TUBES
A stage drama for a community theatre group, describing the misadventures of a wayward youth in the Edinburgh sewers.
First Base Theatre Co. at Netherbow Theatre, Edinburgh 1996.
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¡DIRIAMBA!
A play with songs about Scottish visitors to a Nicaraguan fishing community, and their
staging of an ancient myth.
Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1997, directed by Robert Rae.
Devised co-production with Teatro Nixtayolero (Nicaragua), led by Valentin Castillo (photo above).
Scriptwriter and translator, Jonathan Falla.
‘The Scotsman’ Fringe First award.
The play was recreated by a community cast on the streets of Stockbridge (Edinburgh) and was then also performed at the South Bank Centre, London
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FREE ROPE
Enough To Hang Ourselves and Pikes and Patsies
Two short location-based plays commissioned by the Saltire Society for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
John Knox House, Edinburgh 1998.
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RIVER OF DREAMS
Book/lyrics for a children’s opera about the River Tay, with music by Gordon Murch.
Highland Perthshire schools group. Perth City Hall 1999.
Heart of Scotland Festival (Aberfeldy) 2000
Millennium Dome (London), 2000.
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THE HUMMINGBIRD TREE
Feature film based on the 1969 novel by Ian McDonald, concerning children in Trinidad at the time of the first post-war elections in 1946.
BBC Screen One 1992.
Directed by Noella Smith, produced by Gub Neal.
Starring Patrick Bergin, Susan Wooldridge, Desha Penco, Sunil J Ramjitsingh and Tom Beasley.
Reims Television Festival 1993: Winner, Best Film.
Laon Film Festival 1993: Winner, Prix de la Ville de Laon.
Los Angeles and London Film Festivals 1993: official selection.
The published script is available.
JONATHAN FALLA : the Site 
Hola Jonathan saludes desde Nicaragua y de los Nixtayoleros que este año cumplimos 33 años en este hermoso camino del arte que compartimos contigo, saludes Robert Reed
I remember seeing “Diriamba” at the Edinburgh Festival. There was a marvellous mix of big, up-front Latin American street theatre with Scottish trained actors, and some great songs – very enjoyable. Pleased to hear it won something.