Adrian Pagan
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Memorial Held for Bush's Backroom Author Pagan

A memorial service will be held this Saturday 15 September 2007 in memory of Bush playwright and former stage manager Adrian Pagan who died unexpectedly at his home in Kennington in south London on Wednesday 29 August 2007. He was 39.

Pagan worked on and off at the Bush Theatre in west London from 1994 to 1999, when his debut play The Backroom was staged there. A comedy set in a gay brothel in Earl's Court, The Backroom won the Verity Bargate Award in 1996. It was then picked up by Soho Theatre and presented in workshop form at London’s Pleasance Theatre before being developed for a full-fledged production at the Bush, where it opened in July 1999.

After his success with The Backroom, Pagan moved into television, writing for series including Family Affairs, Night and Day, The Bill, Where the Heart Is and Holby City. He had also been working on a screen adaptation of The Backroom and an original series called The Godfather.

In 2000, Pagan was appointed writer in residence at Essex University. More recently, he had been planned a return to playwriting and was under commission with Soho Theatre.

Born on 12 June 1968 in Mons, Belgium, where his army father was stationed, Pagan received a first in chemistry at Imperial College, London, but quickly opted for a career in theatre, going on to study stage management at the RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art).

Alex Gammie, a former colleague from the Bush and friend of Pagan’s for many years, commented: "Adrian was hugely talented in so many areas, but most of all great company and a wonderful friend. He is going to be missed by an extraordinary number of people."

Saturday’s memorial service will be held from 1pm to 5pm at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, London. Amongst Pagan’s one-time theatre industry colleagues expected to attend are former Bush artistic directors Mike Bradwell and Dominic Dromgoole (now artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe), Deborah Aydon (now executive director of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), actor Karl Shiels and fellow playwright Sam Adamson.

- by Terri Paddock

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