Howard Barker

Howard Barker (born 1946) is a British playwright.

Barker describes his works using the term "Theatre of Catastrophe," and his plays often explore violence, sexuality, the desire for power, and human motivation.

In his writing, Barker usually makes little attempt to adhere to realism or a specific ideological message, and instead it is left to his audience to find meaning in what they see and hear on stage.

Barker frequently turns to historical events and famous texts for inspiration. His play Scenes from an Execution, for example, centers on the aftermath of the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and a fictional artist commissioned to create a commemorative painting of the Venetian victory over the Ottoman fleet. The short play Judith revolves around the Biblical story of Judith, the legendary heroine who decapitated the invading general Holofernes.

Though in his own country he is relatively unknown among modern playwrights, Barker's works have earned him a sizable following on the European mainland, and many of his plays have been translated into various languages. In Britain, a theatre company called the Nigel Osborne), and a collection of essays (