THICKNESS OF SKIN Playwright Clare McIntyre Dies of MS at 57

Acclaimed British playwright Clare McIntyre, whose Thickness of Skin recently made its American premiere in New York City this fall, passed away last Friday, November 27th of multiple sclerosis. She was 57.

She was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, but her symptoms reappeared virulently in 1996.

Clare McIntyre was a decorated playwright, having received the Samuel Beckett Theatre Award, the London Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, and the London Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright. In 1993, The Barrow Group Theatre Company produced her play Low Level Panic, which the New York Times dubbed "a remarkably sensitive piece of witty writing" that "found the right director and cast."

The Barrow Group, the birthplace of this season's Broadway hit A Steady Rain, and last season's Off-Broadway hit The Tempermentals, recently partnered with McIntyre again when they kicked off their 23rd Anniversary Season with the American Premiere of The Thickness of Skin, directed by Jacob White in the TBG Studio Theatre. The production ran from October 10 through November 9 of this year.

Additional playwriting credits include My Heart's a Suitcase, The Maths Tutor, in addition to writing for East Enders and the soap opera Castles.

To read more about the playwright and her contributions to theater worldwide, click here.

She is survived by her brother, Bruce, her sister, Lesley, and husband Sean.

Photo courtesy of the U.K. Guardian