Simon Bowler Khan
Los Angeles, CA
Simon Bowler Khan is a seasoned producer, director and writer of almost 800 hours of film, broadcast and cable television programming.
Biography

Simon Bowler Khan is a seasoned producer, director and writer of almost 700 hours of film, broadcast and cable television programming.

 

After graduating with a degree in Film and TV Production from the University of Westminster in London, Simon started at the BBC where he ran several shows for BBC World Service Television.  He then went freelance and produced, wrote and directed feature documentaries for Channel 4, The World Bank, and Friends of the Earth.  He came to the United States and produced the acclaimed mockumentary feature film ‘Man of the Year’.  He worked as an entertainment radio journalist in Los Angeles, interviewing hundreds of actors and directors. Simon then worked in development with filmmakers and producers such as George Hickenlooper (Hearts of Darkness), Michael Phillips (Close Encounters), and Derek Gibson (Platoon, The Last Emperor).
 

He returned to television and produced, directed and wrote multiple shows for ABC, PBS, Discovery, Oxygen, Bravo, Channel 4 (UK), Fox, and Cisco Systems, Global Green, and Friends of the Earth.

                                                          

He has shot on locations around America, across Europe, in the mountains of Nepal, the jungles of Bangladesh, the inner cities of India, the wilds of Borneo, and throughout his home country of Britain.   He has produced and post-produced game shows, reality shows, and hard-hitting investigative documentary features about deforestation, the corruption of international aid money, and the gangs of Los Angeles.

 

He is currently developing a major television drama series.

 

Plays

by Simon Bowler

On the tenth anniversary of 9-11 a U.S. Lieutenant reports to a General on progress against terrorism since the attacks, but what she tells him isn’t what he expected to hear…

Cast:
General: A man in his 50s. Lt. Kimberly Clark: A woman in her 30s. Senator: A man in his 60s.
by Simon Bowler Khan

Athens. 399 BC. The newly restored democracy is on shaky ground, the city is under threat from without and within.  Talk of betrayal, revolution and invasion pervade. The democratic leaders request the help of old man Socrates, the so-called philosopher, but when he refuses they threaten to put him on trial for heresy and corruption.  They believe they cannot lose the case, but in the trial the old man turns the tables and puts the democracy itself on trial.

Cast:
SOCRATES, (Sok-ra-tees) stocky, plainly dressed (70) (1) ANYTUS, (An-ee-tus) a 'common citizen' now Chief of the Assembly (40s) (2) MELEETA, (Meh-lee-ta) a politician (30s) (3) THEMION, (Them-ion) Anytus's son (18) (4) ZAPHYR, (Zaf-eer) Anytus's Persian female slave, (20s) (5) HELENE, (Hel-een), a female Macedonian farmer (30s) (5) JAILER (6) ARCHON, (Ar-kon) the Judge, female (5) SOLDIER (6) 2 CITIZENS, female and male. (6, 5) 11 characters - 6 male, 5 female. With doubling 6 actors, (4 male, 2 female)
by Simon Bowler Khan

The rise and fall of the greatest art forger in history.

Cast:
Han Van Meegeren - Forger (40s) (Mee-Gur-en) (1) Jo Van Meegeren - Han's wife (30s) (2) Jane Stein - reporter (30s) Theo Van Wijngaarden - Art Dealer (30s) (Vin-Garden) (3) Abraham Bredius - Expert (60s) (Bree-dee-us) (4) Inspector Henrich Wooning - Allied Investigator (30s) (Woo-ning) (3) Lotte - a prostitute (30s) (5) Lt. Hess - Nazi officer (40s) (3) Judge - Female (40s) (2) Aloys Miedel - (40s) (Al-oice Mee-del) (4) Solider - (20s) (3) (various: Nazi Officer, Crowd) 10 roles, 7 male, 3 female. With doubling, 5 actors, (3 male, 2 female)
by Simon Bowler Khan

The rise of the poet, lover, and spy, Christopher Marlowe.

Cast:
Christopher (Kit) Marlowe (20s) - poet, lover, spy (1) Archbishop Whitgift (40s) - head of the Church of England (2) Anne Whitgift (later Lady Anne Havenhurst) (20s) - Whitgift's daughter (3) Thomas Walsingham (20s) - nephew of Sir Francis Walsingham (4) Sir Francis Walsingham (50s) - Elizabeth's Spy Master (5) John Ballard (30s) - Priest and Catholic spy (and plays Ghost) (4) Robert Poley(30s)- Sir Francis' henchman (6) Philip Henslowe (40s) - owner of The Rose Theater (6) Judith Henslowe (30s) - husband of Philip (7) Lord Havenhurst (60s) - head of the Privy Council (6) Maunder (40s) - Whitgift's Sergeant (4) Jessica (20s) - Sir Francis' maid (3) A Collector (20s) (4) Elizabeth, Queen of England (30s) (7) (various: priest, crowd) 14 characters (10 male, 4 female). With doubling 7 actors (5 male, 2 female)
by Simon Bowler Khan

The fall of the poet, lover, and spy, Christopher Marlowe.

Cast:
Cast: Doubling: Christopher (Kit) Marlowe (20s) - poet, lover, spy (1) Archbishop John Whitgift (40s) - head of the Church of England (2) Lady Anne Havenhurst (20s) - Whitgift's daughter (3) Thomas Walsingham (20s) - nephew of Sir Francis Walsingham (4) Sir Francis Walsingham (50s) - Elizabeth's Spy Master (5) Robert Poley(30s)- Sir Francis' henchman (7) Philip Henslowe (40s) - owner of The Rose Theater (plays Mephistopheles) (6) Judith Henslowe (30s) - husband of Philip (8) Lord Havenhurst (60s) - head of the Privy Council (6) Lill (20s) - a prostitute (3) Maunder (40s) - Whitgift's Sergeant (7) Eleanor (30s) - tavern owner (8) The Collector (male) (20s - 50s) - a body collector (6) Thomas Kyd (20s) - a writer (7) William Bradley (30's) - a fop (6) Andrew Perne (50s) - Chancellor (5) Soldier (20s) (7) Susan (20s) - a maid (3) Various: Crowd 1 and 2, Frizer 18 characters, 13 male, 5 female. With doubling - 8 actors (5 male, 3 female)
by Simon Bowler Khan

Playwright Christopher Marlowe is the most celebrated writer in England and a member of the School of Atheism, a secret society of intellectuals. His increasingly provocative plays draw the attention of Archbishop Whitgift, who begins a campaign of censorship to destroy the School and Marlowe.

Cast:
Christopher (Kit) Marlowe (20s) - poet, lover, spy (1) Archbishop John Whitgift (40s) - head of the Church of England (2) Lady Anne Havenhurst (20s) - Whitgift's daughter (3) Thomas Walsingham (20s) - head of The School of Night (4) Sir Francis Walsingham (50s) - Elizabeth's Spy Master (5) Robert Poley (30s)- Sir Francis' henchman (6) Philip Henslowe (30s) - owner of The Rose Theater (7) Judith Henslowe (20s) - husband of Philip (8) Lord Havenhurst (60s) - head of the Privy Council (9) Lill (20s) - a prostitute (3) Maunder (30s) - Whitgift's Sergeant (6) Eleanor (20s) - tavern owner (8) The Collector (male) (20s - 50s) - a body collector (2) Thomas Kyd (20s) - a writer (7) William Bradley (30's) - a fop (6) Andrew Perne (30s) - Chancellor (5) Soldier (20s) (9) Susan (20s) - a maid (3) Sir Walter Raleigh (30s) - statesman, captain, pirate (7) Thomas Harriot (30s) - scientist (6) Various: Crowd 1 and 2, Frizer 20 characters, 15 male, 5 female. With doubling - 9 actors (6 male, 3 female)

Successes

Marlowe Part One

Reviews

"Masterfully crafted... impeccably written dialogue... compelling characters... keeps the audience engaged from the first to the very last page." WeScreenplay Script Notes.

"Funny, hip, dramatic... sexy... and the main character is a tour de force for any gifted young actor." Manhattan Rep Theater

"Unpredictable and full of twists and turns. Kit is witty, romantic, intelligent, conflicted and relatable, revealed through rich dialogue and action." ScreenCraft Script Notes

"Every character is so well developed actors will be chomping at the bit to portray them." New Play Exchange

"It is strongly suggested to adapt this play into a screenplay." WeScreenplay Script Notes

"A strong voice for the time, place and the people - it all rings with authenticity. The play is impactful, inspiring... and highly entertaining." Screencraft Play Notes

"The setting generates a ton of tension as the plague takes its victims while the British monarchy is in dispute. It’s the type of script that makes an audience excited to be in a theatre." WeScreenplay Script Review

Awards

Writemovies Play Writing Winner Innovasian Writing Initiative Grand Prize Winner Sultan Padamsee Playwright Award Winner The Red List #1 Historical Stage Play Dramatists Guild End of Play Readings New Works of Merit Honorable Mention Writers Digest Honorable Mention Tru Voices Semifinalist Screencraft Play Semifinalist NexTV Script Semifinalist American Community Theater New PlayFest Semirfinalist Screenwriters and Co Semifinalist Muse of Fire Atlanta Shakespeare Festival Shortlisted Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival Wait-listed Austin Film Festival Play Quarterfinalist Bay Area Playwrights Festival Quarterfinalist Awards from adapted Screenplay Movie Deal Best Screenplay - NBC Writers Program Finalist - Cinequest Finalist - Writer's Network Honorable Mention - Academy Nichols Semifinalist - Universal/Chesterfield Semi-Finalist

Marlowe Part Two

Reviews:

"Kit Marlowe is sharper, more devious, and more manipulative. He’s always the smartest person in the room. The dialogue is strong. The cadences are distinct. The characters build up good rhythms with each other. There’s an insatiable appetite for Marlowe and Shakespeare, especially when it’s as strong as this one in character, story, and dialogue." WeScreenplay Script Notes

Awards:

Writemovies Play Writing Winner Innovasian Writing Initiative Grand Prize Winner Austin Film Festival Play Quarterfinalist Screencraft Stage Play Quarterfinalist

 

Judgment of the Eye (formerly Forger)

Reviews:

The Paragon Press: "I didn't want it to end. Interesting concept, good dialogue, plot, and characters. The pacing was very good, each scene necessary. Very marketable." 
LivereadLA:

"Really solid Simon, really solid, this script is crazy strong." Script Pipeline:

"This is a very well-written play. The dialogue is sharp and features a deeply intriguing main character at its center... sets itself apart from the pack."

Southwest Theater Productions: "Beautiful work, well-written dialogue… engaging at all times …intriguing, clever, and based on a true story. Who wouldn't love it?"

ScreenCraft: "Han is a complicated, charismatic protagonist that many actors will want to sink their teeth into."

Awards

Broadway Bound Festival Winner, Sultan Padamsee Playwright Award Winner, Pharmacy Theatre New Writers Winner, Wishbone Theater Winner, Paragon Press Winner, The Writer Speaks Winner, Shawnee Playhouse Reading Winner, Jocunda Theatre Festival Winner, Broad Horizons Theater New Voices Finalist, Screencraft Play Finalist, LiveRead/LA Finalist, New Works of Merit Honorable Mention, Tru Voices Semifinalist Garry Marshall New Works Semifinalist, Risk Theatre Modern Tragedy Semifinalist, Dayton Playhouse Future Fest Semifinalist, WriteMovies Semifinalist,

The Enemy of the State

Reviews:

"A sharply drawn and thematically potent exploration of the ways in which democracy can be corrupted by ignorance and manipulation. … captures the wit and intelligence of Socrates and the writer creates a powerful critique of both venal and short-sighted politicians and the populace who support them."  Brian Porter, Senior Reader, Script Pipeline.            

"It seemed as if this was ripped from the headlines.  Page after page it kept me intrigued.  The dialogue was very strong. Each character has a distinct voice. Whomever plays Socrates will be getting a rich character with explosive lines. A very strong play." Coverfly Notes.

"A perfect script for many theaters as the setup doesn't require a lot, and would be a great challenge for a cast of talented actors. Excellent and straightforward writing." Austin Film Festival PlayContest

"Concise and compelling storytelling; from the first page it was apparent that I was delving into a fully-realized world., expertly balancing imagery with simplicity so as to paint pictures but not appear overly literary." Coverfly Script Notes

"This entire scenario feels incredibly similar to what has happened in the last few years of the American government and it would be very surprising if the writer was not trying to achieve this effect. This is a fantastic script and the writer did a great job of creating a story that is both timeless and incredibly timely." Screencraft Play Contest

Awards

World Series Contest Winner,   The Writer Speaks Winner, Lighthouse Writers Winner, New Works of Merit Finalist,   Sultan Padamsee Finalist,   Seven Devils New Play Foundry Notice of Merit, Screencraft Stage Play Semifinalist,   Risk Theater Tragedy Semifinalist,   Write Movies Play Semifinalist, AACT New Play Fest Semifinalist, Coverfly Redlist: #1 Historical Stage Play