Nicholas Pierpan

Nicholas Pierpan is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing within the Department of English at Royal Holloway, University of London. He holds a BA from Bowdoin College and earned both his MPhil and DPhil from the University of Oxford. His academic and artistic work bridges creative practice and literary scholarship.

His research interests focus on creative writing across multiple media, particularly playwriting, screenwriting, poetry, and radio drama. A central theme in his work is the intersection of Romantic literature—especially William Wordsworth—with contemporary theatre and performance. His creative output often explores biographical and historical narratives through innovative dramatic forms.

Nicholas’ recent publications and performances reflect a strong trend in literary adaptation, biographical theatre, and poetic storytelling, often drawing from 19th-century literature and reimagining it for modern audiences across stage, screen, and radio.

Selected Awards and Recognitions:

• 2013 Off West End Award for Most Promising New Playwright
• Two-time winner of the Cameron Mackintosh Award for New Writing
• Peggy Ramsay Award recipient
• Shortlisted for the Yale Drama Prize
• BBC New Talent Hotlist (2017)
• Selected for Serial Eyes programme at German Film and Television Academy, Berlin (2020/21)

Nicholas has been actively involved in professional creative development through fellowships and residencies, including the National Theatre Studio, Wolfson College Creative Arts Fellowship, and BBC Drama Writers’ Scheme. He was commissioned by the BBC to write for iPlayer Shorts and has had radio plays broadcast on BBC3, BBC4, and BBC6. His major creative project, A New Play: The Draining of the Fens (2020–2022), was funded and completed as a research endeavor. While no formal students are listed, his role involves mentoring emerging writers through teaching and workshops.

He is affiliated with the Creative Writing programme at Royal Holloway and contributes to initiatives linking the arts with broader societal goals, including alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals through cultural expression and education.