Writer, Director and actor Dr Stuart Hepburn is a lecturer in Screenwriting at the University of Stirling.
He has been a professional Screenwriter, Actor and Director for the past 35 years. He has written 3 feature films, 8 stage plays and over 100 hours of Television.
His play on the 51st Highland Division “The Beaches Of St Valery” will open at Oran Mor on 16th of March 2020.
He is currently developing a World War 2 Drama for NRK, Norway.
He is producing a tour of his play “Chic Murray : A Funny Place For A Window” which you can see at Fringe Venue 7, Oran Mor, The Beacon Arts Centre and Ayr Gaiety in August 2020
Stuart was Story Producer at BBC Scotland’s River City from 2015-16, being responsible for the team storylining 52 hours of the long running drama. He recently appeared as John Anderson in the series.
From 2006-15 he was a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing and Contemporary Screen Acting at University Of The West Of Scotland. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and in 2015 was a awarded a PhD in English Literature through the School of Critical Studies at the University Of Glasgow.
Stuart’s areas of expertise are the practice and theory of Stage Writing and Team Writing For Television, Screen Adaptation and Contemporary Screen Acting.
Stuart was a member of the creative team who adapted, storyboarded and wrote 26 Episodes of Mairi Hedderwick’s “Katie Morag” series for Move On Up TV and BBC Scotland .
Katie Morag’s awards up to now are as follows:
2 British Academy Children’s Awards for Best Drama and Best Performance, (also nominated for Best Writer for Sergio Casci)
Best Children’s Series BAFTA Scotland
RTS Scotland Children’s Award
Best New Kids Series 2015 Kidscreen Awards Miami
Freesat Free TV Awards Best Children’s Series
Nominated Best Children’s Screenplay in the British Screenwriters Award.
Here is a pic of Stuart with fellow team writers Sergio Casci and Martin McCardie with Katie Morag’s Scottish BAFTA.
As a creative writing developer, tutor and mentor, he has worked for The Edinburgh International Festival Network, The Arvon Foundation, Clackmannan Council, Screen Academy Scotland, Moonstone, Movie Makars, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and UHI at Sol Mor Ostaig on Skye. He was on the board of the Traverse Theatre for 11 years and it’s chair for 5.
As an actor he appeared in the first two Series of “Lip Service “for BBC 3 as the father of Laura Fraser who went on to star as Lydia in HBO’s “Breaking Bad.” Before that he played Sam Heughan’s father in “River City” who then went on to star as Jamie Fraser in Starz “Outlander”. He makes no claim to fame other than that his screen progeny have completely eclipsed the career of their screen father.
Short Bio
Stuart has been acting and writing since graduating from the University Of Stirling in 1982.
From 2006-15 he was a Senior Lecturer in Screenwriting and Performance at University Of The West Of Scotland. He won two Star teaching awards and was nominated four times for his innovative teaching while at UWS.
He was on the Reading Panel and a member of the Board of The Traverse in Edinburgh for 11 years, and was it’s Chair from 2001-2005 . He helped to support the creative team who nurtured the talent of writers such as David Grieg, Gregory Burke and David Harrower. He has worked with Directors such as John Tiffany, DominicHill, Bill Gaskell, Philip Howard, Kenny Ireland, Ian Brown and Ian Woolridge.
As an actor Stuart has appeared at theatres such as The Royal Lyceum, The Citizens, The Traverse, Dundee Rep and The Tramway , and won a Fringe First for his portrayal in “Hanging The President”. He has worked with companies such as TAG, Communicado, Cumbernauld and The MacRobert in Stirling. He has toured with stageworks extensively from Achiltibuie to Battersea.
He has written two feature films: “The James Gang” (Revolution Films) starred John Hannah and Toni Collette, and “A Love Divided “ (Paralell Films) ,which achieved five Irish Film and TV Award Nominations.
He has written four stage plays, and over 80 hours of Television, His latest stage play “The Beaches Of St Valery” was performed at Oran Mor in Glasgow in March 2017.
He created the series “ McCallum” for ITV , and adapted Ian Rankin’s “Rebus” for Clerkenwell Films , and has written for series as diverse as “Sam Saturday,” “Hamish Macbeth” , ” Monarch Of The Glen” and “River City.”
He was the winner of the Writer’s Guild Award for Drama for his work on Taggart, for which he has written 17 Series.
He was a leading writer and Creative Story Consultant for BBC Scotland Drama “River City” from 2007-9.
He is been a visiting lecturer in Creative Writing at the Universities of St.Andrews, Stirling and Glasgow. His main research interests are in the areas of Creative Writing in Adaptation, Practice Based Research, Team Writing for Television, and Cross- Programmatical Creative Synergies.
You can follow Stuart on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stuart_hepburn
16 comments
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September 7, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Jonathan Melville
Hi Stuart, thanks for the link on Twitter – I couldn’t reply as you don’t follow me on there.
Would you ever be interested in an interview re: Hamish Macbeth? Please see this before answering… http://bit.ly/d3P2Xg
Cheers,
Jon
September 8, 2010 at 2:51 PM
stuarthepburn
Aye no worries. Just email me some questions.
September 7, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Jonathan Melville
Not sure if that comment leaves my email address – should do it.
June 9, 2011 at 5:33 AM
#UWSLTAS #MGAlba Freeview Launch « Scriptwriting
[…] About Stuart Hepburn […]
June 30, 2013 at 5:55 AM
Kenny Harvey
Hi Stuart,
I just tried to mail you via LinkedIn but only succeeded in sending a connection request. I’m playing Peter McColl in Katie Morag up on Lewis. Great scripts by the way, you guys have done a cracking job!
I’ve got a script query, I’m just after a wee clarification really (ep 3, which we’re filming this week) which it’d be great to run by you?
Can I email you privately?
Cheers,
Kenny
July 2, 2013 at 11:52 AM
stuarthepburn
Emailed you now Kenny. All the best
October 3, 2013 at 1:51 AM
Dale Barnes
Hi I found a monologue from your script Loose Ends, and i want to do the monologue for competition in I.T.S. (International Thespian Society) But I need a script to be able to compete. Could you give me some links as to where I can buy your script. If you could this would be really helpfully!
Thank you,
Dale
October 3, 2013 at 8:19 AM
stuarthepburn
The script was published by Nick Hearn Books. If you google that and my name it should give you the title of the book. Hope this helps.
October 22, 2013 at 1:52 AM
Dale Barnes
Hey I did google Nick Hearn Books and your name with it and i still couldn’t find a place where i could buy it. Do you know of anything else i could do? I am hoping I can find it soon because i really want to perform it!
Thank you,
Dale
October 28, 2013 at 8:15 AM
stuarthepburn
This might help.
http://www.4-wall.com/plays/plays_l/looselost.htm
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsH/hepburn-stuart.html
December 8, 2016 at 9:02 PM
Noirin Blackie
Hello Stuart I watched “in plain sight” last night. You play my father PF James Farrell. Also I remember you from Stirling uni many years ago. I would love to talk to you over a coffee about my dad. Noirin Blackie (Farrell)
December 8, 2016 at 10:35 PM
stuarthepburn
Hi Noirin
As luck would have it I’m lecturing at stirling at the moment . Email me st
March 9, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Lorna Ross
Hi, I really wanted to see “The Beaches of St Valery”, but couldn’t. Are you planning on bringing it to the east, or showing it again in the west? (I have given talks on my grandfather’s experiences of the war, including his capture at St Valery.I attended the 75th commemorations there.)
March 9, 2017 at 10:56 AM
stuarthepburn
Hi Lorna
I am getting the performance filmed and will be ascertaining as to whether there is any interest in developing the project further. I will let you know as soon as possible about any developments. I have emailed you with my details. Stuart
February 13, 2020 at 12:20 AM
David Wilson
Hi Stuart,
My name is David from Glasgow.
Apologies for emailing you out the blue, as I know you are a busy man.
My little boy Marcus who is 7 years old, is the biggest Jock stone fan.
He is absolutely loves the hurricanes and me and my son watch it every night without fail.
I am sorry to be so bold and ask, is there any possibility you could leave him a voicemail wishing him all the best. He has started playing for a football team.
It would make his year and dream come true, if he got a Voicemail from the famous Jock stone.
I would more than happy to pay you for your time.
He is a really caring wee boy, he has brother who has severe autism. And Jock stone positivity rubs of on him to help his brother.
PS I was huge fan of the hurricanes growing up as a kid also.
With thanks and kindness
David Wilson.
February 13, 2020 at 4:11 PM
stuarthepburn
Goodness me you are going back some time. As (bad) luck would have it I have lost my voice with a dreadful cold but when I recover I will be happy to help. What is the number?