BBC1 film ‘Miracle on the Estate’, screened on Good Friday 2008, has received the Premier Prize for Television at the Sandford St Martin Awards, in a ceremony held on June 1st in Lambeth Palace, London. Michael wrote the libretto and James Atherton the music in this modern version of a medieval miracle play, performed by the people of Harpurhey in Manchester. It was directed by Chris Salt and made by the BBC in Manchester.

‘EDGELANDS   – Journeys into England’s Last Wilderness’, due to be published by Cape   in 2011, has won a Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for   non-fiction. A co-authored book between Michael and fellow poet Paul   Farley, ‘EDGELANDS’ won the award with a synopsis and sample chapter,   and Michael and Paul received the award at a ceremony in London on March   9th.

Radio drama ‘Soldiers in the Sun’, broadcast in November last year on BBC Radio 3, exploring the effects of post-traumatic-stress-disorder on soldiers, has won a Clarion Award, and is shortlisted for a Mental Health Award.

Dramatisation of latest novel – ‘Breath’ – will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 9pm on November 21st

May 08 – Welsh National Opera’s major new commission – ‘The Sacrifice’ – with libretto by MSR and music by James MacMillan, received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s award for opera at a ceremony held at London’s Dorchester Hotel. ‘The Sacrifice’ was premiered last September at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and toured the UK, finishing in November at Sadlers Wells in London.

Friday, May 30, 2008

November 07: Panel discussion at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

November 07: Broadcast of new commissioned Radio 3 drama ‘Soldiers in the Sun’

October 07: Chairing judges, Forward Prizes for Poetry, London

September-November 07: Performances of ‘The Sacrifice’ new opera for Welsh National Opera. Composer James MacMillan, Director Katie Mitchell, Librettist MSR

July 07: Reading for Poets & Players, St Ann’s – Manchester

July 07: Reading at Wellcome Foundation, London

July 07: Reading at Arvon Centre – The Hurst

June 07: Screening of Channel 4 / More 4 War Oratorio

January 07: Commissioned by BBC1 to write & present documentary on artists approaches to Good Friday

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

March 08 – new novel – ‘Breath’ – published by Jonathan Cape

Friday, May 30, 2008