Richard Bean was born in Hull in 1956. After school, he worked in a bread plant before leaving to study Psychology at Loughborough University. Richard has worked as a psychologist and a stand-up comedian. He lives with his partner Erica and two daughters, Tilly and Ruby.

He was awarded the 2011 Evening Standard Award for Best Play for The Heretic and One Man, Two Guvnors, the 2011 Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play and 2012 Whatsonstage.com Award for Best New Comedy, both for One Man, Two Guvnors.

His work for the stage includes One Man, Two Guvnors (National Theatre (Lyttelton)/Adelphi Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket/Music Box Theatre, New York/World Tour); a stage version of David Mamet’s The House of Games (Almeida); The Big Fellah (produced by Out of Joint); Pub Quiz is Life (Hull Truck); England People Very Nice (National Theatre (Olivier), Olivier Award Nomination for Best New Play); The English Game (produced by Headlong); Up On Roof (Hull Truck, nominated for TMA Play of the Year); In The Club (Hampstead Theatre); a version of Moliere’s The Hypochondriac (Almeida); The Heretic, Harvest (Nominated for Evening Standard and Olivier Best New Play Awards, Winner Critics’ Circle Best New Play), Honeymoon Suite (Pearson Play of the Year), Under The Whaleback (George Devine Award) and Toast (all at the Royal Court); The God Botherers (Bush Theatre); Smack Family Robinson (Newcastle Live!); The Mentalists (Lyttelton Loft, National Theatre); and Mr England (Sheffield Crucible Theatre).

His radio plays include Of Rats and Men; Yesterday; Unsinkable; and Robin Hood’s Revenge.