Playwright David Storey dies aged 83

Storey won the Booker Prize for his novel Saville in 1976, which tells the story of a mining family from the late 1930s onwards.

His many plays include The Changing Room, Cromwell and Home – which was directed by Lindsay Anderson, with whom he collaborated on many of his works, including the 1963 film of Storey's debut novel This Sporting Life. Storey's novel follows protagonist Arthur Machin, a man who tries to make it as a rugby league player. It won Storey the Macmillan Fiction Award and began the director and writer's long collaboration.

Other collaborations with Anderson include the onscreen productions of In Celebration starring Alan Bates and Brian Cox. The play was revived in the West End in 2007 starring Orlando Bloom.

Storey had a famous run-in with Guardian reviewer Michael Billington who he gave a cuff round the ears for his review of Mother's Day at the Royal Court.

The writer was born in Wakefield and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art whilst also playing rugby for Leeds RLFC (now Leeds Rhinos). His wife, Barbara Hamilton, died in 2015 and he is survived by two sons and two daughters.

The theatre industry paid tribute on social media today to the writer.

RIP David Storey. A FANTASTIC playwright in so many styles. The Contractor, The Changing Room, In Celebration, Home, Cromwell, Life Class.

A beautiful mind wrote these words. Thank you David Storey. pic.twitter.com/EMJQyAw85K

#RIP David Storey a giant of post-war theatre and a great, great playwright. Read him and understand some of what it is to write theatre.

RIP David Storey. "Trust the tale, not the Author" lessons we could all learn from when we dig writers for their background.