Born in London on September 3, 1938, Caryl Churchill grew up in England and Canada. In 1960, she received a BA in English from Oxford University where she wrote three plays: DOWNSTAIRS, YOU’VE NO NEED TO BE FRIGHTENED and HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME.

After graduation, she began to write radio plays for the BBC including THE ANTS (1962) and SCHREBER’S NERVOUS ILLNESS (1972). This genre forced Churchill to develop a certain economy of style which would serve her well in her later work for the stage, but it also freed her from the limitations of the stage, allowing, for example, the freedom to write very short scenes or make great leaps in time and space.

While working with Joint Stock and Monstrous Regiment, Churchill wrote a number of successful plays including LIGHT SHINING ON BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (1976), VINEGAR TOM (1976), CLOUD NINE (1979) and A MOUTHFUL OF BIRDS.

As Churchill's remarkable career continues to develop, her plays seem to be growing more and more sparse and less and less inhibited by realism. In THE STRIKER (1994), she utilizes an associative dream logic which some critics found to be nonsensible.

Her awards include three Obie Award (1982, 1983 & 1988) and a Society of West End Theatre Award (1988).