Peter Charles Patrick Oswald (born 1965) is an English playwright specialising in verse drama, resident at Shakespeare's Globe from 1998 to 2009.

Early life

Oswald was born the second of four children (eldest of three sons) of farmer and stockbroker Peter David Hamilton Oswald and Juliet (née McLaughlin), of Fliskmillan, Fife, Scotland. His uncle was Sir Julian Oswald, First Sea Lord from 1989 to 1993. The Oswalds were landed gentry, of Cavens, Dumfries, and Auchincruive (now named "Oswald Hall"), South Ayrshire, Scotland, descending from merchant George Oswald, Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1797 to 1799,

Career

Oswald was the first writer/playwright-in-residence at Shakespeare's Globe theatre, London, for which he wrote three new plays, from 1998 to 2009. He was later playwright-in-residence at the Finborough Theatre. Oswald established his own company, Heart's Tongue, to produce some of his plays. In March 2022, Oswald was interviewed about his verse drama plays on the podcast Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama, hosted by Emily C. A. Snyder and Colin Kovarik.

Personal life

Oswald is married to the poet Alice Oswald, with whom he has three children. They live in Devon, southwest England. His brother is the author James Oswald.

Books