James Graham won the Catherine Johnson Award for the Best Play 2007 for his play Eden's Empire. He was awarded the Pearson Playwriting Bursary in 2006. He is Writer in Residence at the Finborough Theatre and a member of the Royal Court/BBC 50 scheme.

James's play Tory Boyz for the National Youth Theatre caused a storm during its run at the Soho Theatre for its portrayal of young, gay men in the modern Conservative Party and received excellent reviews.

His first film for television, Caught in a Trap, was broadcast on ITV1 on Boxing Day 2008. James was picked as one of the Broadcast Magazine Hotshots in the same year.  He is under commission from several theatres and for several television companies. 

TELEVISION

CANDY FLOSS/SATURDAY NIGHT SOLDIERS/THE GOOD KNIGHTS: Co-writting projects with Joel Horwood and Ben Ockrent for Cowboy Films (2010).

WOLFF: Original series under commission at Shine (2010).

SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL: Writing an episode of the show for Tiger Aspect/ITV2 (2010).

MULTIPLE CHOICE: In development with Hat Trick (2010).

MEDS: Pilot script for new drama series for Carnival/BBC3 (2009).

KHOA SAN ROAD: Writing pilot script for new drama series for World Productions (2008/2009).

CAUGHT IN A TRAP 90' starring Connie Fisher, Jim Carter and Geraldine James for Greenlit Productions/ ITV (Filmed May 2008).

THEATRE

RELISH: New play about Alexis Soyer the first celebrity chef for the National Youth Theatre opening September 2010.

BASSETT: Play for young people as part of the National Theatre Connections strand (2010-11).

NEW COMMISSION: For the National Theatre (2010).

UNTITLED NEW COMMISSION: For Plymouth Theatre Royal (2010).

THE WHISKY TASTER: Produced at The Bush Theatre in January and February 2010 starring Samuel Barnett and Kate O'Flynn.

'a brilliantly pacey and culturally penetrating new comedy... Conveying the speed and the sheer informational and imagistic overload of our era is a hard task, but the theatre can have a salutary role in slowing down the rhythm and forcing one to concentrate on a few intensely focused aspects of life. Directed with a quick-witted, uncanny flair by James Grieve, The Whisky Taster manages to square the circle. It induces some of the exhilaration you get from the headlong knowingness of the best TV comedy, such as The Thick of It, while having the strong metaphoric framework of inspired theatre. And in its central protagonist, it fields a cleverly angled and coded symbol of the age...the very talented author manages to pack in unpretentiously many of our current preoccupations.' Paul Taylor, The Independent *****

'This fine new play by James Graham is a classic example of the Bush Theatre at its quirky best. It is charming, funny, sad and original and has much to say about the times in which we live...Like a great malt whisky, this rich, idiosyncratic drama leaves a long, complex and highly attractive aftertaste. ' Charles Spencer, The Telegraph ****

'Written with enormous charm, psychological depth and satirical bite, The Whisky Taster is a bitter-sweet story of contemporary London workaholic youth... Thought-provoking, observant and emotionally intelligent, this is a superb piece of new writing.' Aleks Sierz, The Stage

A HISTORY OF FALLING THINGS: At Clwyd Theatre Cymru, directed by Kate Wasserberg. To be published by Methuen (2009).

'James Graham's new play is a sheer delight.... This is a rich production of an enormously entertaining, heart-warming and funny play.' The Stage

'Graham's writing has a freshness and lightness to it that Kate Wasserberg relishes in her first production as new plays director at Theatr Clywd.' The Guardian

SUDDENLOSSOFDIGNITY.COM: Commission for The Bush Theatre and the Latitude Festival (2009).

SONS OF YORK: Following a family through the Winter of Discontent, at The Finborough Theatre (2008).

'One of the best new plays of the year...A real triumph for the Finborough' Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide

'It's hard to argue with the play's lovely writing, and its lambent humanity... The acting is uniformly superb.' Brian Logan, Time Out Time Out Critics' Choice

'Having tackled Thatcher, Heath and Eden successfully, James Graham is fast building a reputation as a sharp-eyed and witty political playwright...Graham's writing has warmth and sincerity.' Sam Marlowe, The Times

TORY BOYZ: For the National Youth Theatre season at the Soho Theatre (2008).

'Very funny and uncomfortably authentic viewing for those who have spent time working in SW1.' The New Statesman

'Tory Boyz is stuffed with well-observed characters and zingy comedy.' The Times

'Graham, ... is clearly fulfilling his early promise. You expect raw talent and commitment from the NYT, but the depth and focus on show here are much rarer qualities in such a youthful production.' Time Out

LITTLE MADAM: Play about the life of Margaret Thatcher, will be going on at the Finborough Theatre, (2007).

'Another top drawer performance lifts a strong piece of writing into a must-see event', Dominic Cavendish. The Telegraph

'A remarkable conceit and one that comes off superbly', The Stage

'The prolific and talented James Graham, who is still only 25 ... now turns his attention to Margaret Thatcher', Paul Taylor, The Independent.

'Spellbindingly brilliant ... A nostalgic, accurate whip through the Thatcher years, enchanting acting and slick directing make this a play you will remember', British Theatre Guide

EDEN'S EMPIRE: commission for the Finborough Theatre, (2006).

'Lucid and gripping...an artful mix of historical reconstruction and mischievously handled hindsight', Paul Taylor, The Independent

'Gripping...a dramatic piece of living history', Michael Billington, The Guardian

'Nuanced and intelligent' Lucy Powell, Time Out

ALBERT'S BOY:  Finborough Theatre, starring Gerard Monaco and Tony award-winner Victor Spinetti. Optioned by Mike Young for development as a feature (2005).

'A play, unlike a lecture, works best when it studies human interactions and foibles. James Graham belies his 22 years in understanding this. There is a precocity in his talent, but through the delicate employment of understatement he never drifts into the pretentious or patronizing' Benjamin Davis, Time Out

'There is a boldness and lyricism to the writing that has a certain potency' Sam Marlowe, The Times.

COAL NOT DOLE: Edinburgh Festival and tour of the North of England (2002).

'Promising new playwright James Graham succeeds in producing a Ken Loach style comedy drama', Scotsman

RADIO

ALBERT'S BOY: Radio adaptation for BBC Radio 4 (2009).

HOW YOU FEELIN' ALF?: Original commission for Radio 4 (2009).