Catherine O'Shea

Catherine O’Shea is an Irish/British screenwriter and playwright with a disability known for her work exploring themes of love, loss, and personal passion. Her debut feature film, The Entertainer, directed by David Clay Diaz and starring Alexander Arnold, won Best Feature Film at the Brighton Rocks Film Festival and at Miraban Film Festival in 2024, with additional awards at Crown Point FF and Göttingen FF. Catherine co-wrote Capture Her with director Abbie Lucas (Pinewood Lift Off Talent, Film Tottenham Best Film), and her short Wait Till It Drops and BAFTA microshort January Gone were screened at the Berlin Flash Film Festival. Her TV pilot, co-written with Markus Meedt, Death Cloak is in development, recognized as a Winner at the Toronto Drama Film and Writing Festival 2023 and a Semi-Finalist in Final Draft’s Big Break Screenwriting Contest. Her play Shards had a sell-out run at Camden People’s Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Park Theatre, and the Paradise Theatre Festival in New York, receiving 5-star reviews and recognition from critic Lyn Gardner. Catherine's works have been produced at Chichester Festival Theatre, Soho Theatre, Theatre 503, BAC, and the Pleasance, as well as four plays at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including Fit For Purpose, which won the Charlie Hartill Award. She has also created plays for young audiences at The Tramshed and the National Maritime Museum. Catherine is a member of BAFTA Connect and has participated in programs including BAFTA Crew/BFI Network and young writers’ schemes at the Royal Court and Traverse Theatre. She is currently on commission to write a site specific theatre production for Cambridge University and to co-write a feature film for Anima films.