Lisa McGee: the New and Talented Girl on the Block from Derry, Northern Ireland

Ireland has produced legendary writers, such as James Joyce, Seamus Heaney, and Samuel Beckett, who all hail from the Emerald Island. These iconic Irish writers have a unique style that has helped them become famous worldwide. Even after they are long gone, their words still live on.

But most recently, there’s a new girl on the block: Northern Irish writer Lisa McGee, who has gained international success with her Channel 4 hit comedy show Derry Girls, based somewhat on the Northern Irish town of Derry.

However, there is more to Lisa McGee than just Derry Girl. You’ll soon discover other great work she has helped to bring to life on our screens. Keep reading to learn more about Lisa McGee, her background, the inspiration for her writing, and more.

Who is Lisa McGee?

You surely will after reading this for those who aren’t aware of Lisa and her writing. Lisa was born in Derry, Northern Ireland’s ‘City of Culture’. When she was young, she dreamed of having a career in the theatre scene. After she finished school at Thornhill College in Derry, McGee moved to Belfast to study drama at the iconic Queens University.

However, she quickly realised that acting wasn’t for her, proclaiming that she couldn’t act very well. This led Lisa to find her passion for writing. It’s good that she did, or we could have never got the hilarious Derry Girls.

Education and Early Career

McGee’s interest in writing was nurtured from a young age, but it was at Queen’s University Belfast that she truly began to hone her craft. Studying drama at the university, McGee became involved in theatre and writing for the stage, an early career path that provided her with invaluable experience in storytelling and character development. While at Queen’s, she wrote her first play, Girls and Dolls, which was performed at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006. The play, a darkly humorous look at the lives of two young girls in Derry during the Troubles, earned critical acclaim and marked McGee as a talent to watch.

After the success of Girls and Dolls, McGee continued to write for theatre, contributing to various productions that explored themes of identity, community, and the often absurd nature of life in Northern Ireland. Her theatre work, including plays like Nineteen Ninety-Two and Jump, helped establish her reputation as a sharp, insightful, and humorous writer. However, her transition to television would truly catapult her into the spotlight.

After University Success for McGee

While Lisa McGee was in the midst of her university life, she scripted her first plays.  One was the successful Girls and Dolls, which won two awards: the Stweart Parker Award in 2007 and the Blackburn Prize. The second play she created was ‘How to Get to Heaven From Belfast’, a student production performed at a Belfast bar, The Parlour.

Once Lisa McGee graduated from Queens University in 2002, she and a few of her friends set up their own company called Sneaking Productions. Together, they created and brought to life the stage play Jump!, which was received well by audiences at the Cathedral Art Festival in 2003. Jump! was later adapted into a movie in 2012.

Lisa also did some work with the Tinderbox Theatre Company in Belfast before she undertook a renowned writing course with the BBC and the prestigious Royal Court Theatre in London, which would be any young playwright’s dream.

McGee is undeniably a very talented writer, backed up by her remarkable catalogue of plays that includes The Heights, A Little Pink Light, Nineteen Ninety-Two, and The Opportunities, to name a few. Not forgetting that she has many writing credits for television, including Things I Haven’t Told You (BBC show), Totally Frank, London Irish (both Channel 4 shows), and the successful RTE show drama ‘Raw’. Lisa McGee was also part of the writing time for the BAFTA-nominated BBC show ‘Being Human’.

Then Came Derry Girls

What truly brought people’s attention to Lisa McGee was the quick success of her show, ‘Derry Girls, ’ which she wrote and produced herself. This unique show explores life in Northern Ireland during the ’90s through the eyes of five schoolgirls, with the backdrop of the Troubles playing out.

The show offers a nostalgic look at Derry from a period that was not always remembered as the best for Northern Irish people. The nearly all-female cast was refreshing to see on the screen. Filled with dark Irish humour, the only worries on the girls’ minds are boys and partying rather than the violence happening in their city.

Lisa McGee has said that her upbringing partly inspired the show in Derry, where she attended a Catholic convent school. Impressively, when the show aired in January 2018 on Channel 4, it drew in a fantastic two-and-a-half million viewers. It has become Channel 4’s biggest comedy show, taking over its other popular Irish show, Father Ted.

Derry Girls went on to have a great second season in 2019 and has been renowned for the third season.

Global Impact and Cultural Significance

The global success of Derry Girls cannot be overstated. The series gave international audiences a glimpse into a time and place often misunderstood or simplified in media representations. McGee’s ability to depict the nuanced, everyday lives of Northern Irish people during the Troubles challenged stereotypes and provided a more complex view of the region’s history.

For many viewers, Derry Girls was their first introduction to the human side of the Northern Ireland conflict. Through the eyes of Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle, and James, audiences saw the impact of the political situation on ordinary people, particularly the youth. The show highlighted how, despite the external chaos, the characters were still focused on the universal struggles of growing up—finding love, fitting in, and discovering themselves.

The series also resonated with Northern Irish audiences, who saw themselves reflected on screen authentically and affectionately. With its distinctive humour and resilience, McGee’s portrayal of the Derry community was a source of pride for many viewers. The show became a cultural phenomenon, with catchphrases, quotes, and scenes entering the public lexicon.

Lisa McGee’s Writing Style

One of the most distinctive elements of McGee’s work is her ability to blend humour with pathos. Her writing often oscillates between laugh-out-loud moments and deeply emotional scenes, creating a dynamic and engaging narrative. This balance is particularly evident in Derry Girls, where comedic moments are frequently juxtaposed with the backdrop of political tension.

McGee is also known for her strong character development. Her characters, especially the female leads, are fully realised individuals with quirks, flaws, and strengths. In Derry Girls, each of the main characters is unique, with their distinct personality traits that contribute to the overall chemistry of the group. Erin’s idealism, Orla’s eccentricity, Clare’s neurosis, Michelle’s rebelliousness, and James’s fish-out-of-water awkwardness combine to create a rich, dynamic ensemble.

Another key strength of McGee’s writing is the dialogue. Her characters speak with the authentic cadence and rhythm of the Northern Irish vernacular, adding authenticity to the show. The dialogue is quick-witted, sharp, and often laden with sarcasm, reflecting the humour of the region. McGee’s ear for dialogue and her ability to write in the voices of her characters are one of the reasons Derry Girls feels so true to life.

Beyond Derry Girls: Expanding Her Reach

While Derry Girls remains McGee’s most famous work, she has continued to expand her repertoire beyond the hit sitcom. Before Derry Girls, McGee was a writer on several other television projects, including the critically acclaimed The Fall and Indian Summers. Both shows allowed McGee to explore darker, more dramatic themes, showcasing her versatility as a writer.

In The Fall, a psychological thriller set in Belfast, McGee contributed to a series that delved into the mind of a serial killer and the detective hunting him. The show was intense, atmospheric, and far removed from the light-hearted tone of Derry Girls, demonstrating McGee’s ability to write across genres.

Her work on Indian Summers, a period drama set during the final years of British rule in India, further highlighted her range as a writer. The show explored complex themes of empire, identity, and class, again proving McGee’s skill in tackling intricate historical narratives.

Marriage, Awards, and Future Success

Lisa Mcgee is married to Tobias Berr, a writer and actor. He previously worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre. They both live and work in London with their son. The talented couple are also working on a new project called ‘The Deceived’, which you’ll hopefully hear more about.

McGee has recently won the Writers Guild of Ireland award for ‘Best 2019 Television Script’ with Derry Girls.

I’m so delighted! Thank you so much @IPSG https://t.co/i6GrdjjSLr

— Lisa McGee (@LisaMMcGee) 19 June 2019

Derry Girls was also nominated for a BAFTA in 2019, and Lisa took home the British Screenwriter Award for Best Comedy Script for TV in 2018. But that isn’t all; Lisa and the team behind ‘Being Human’ won the Writers Guild of Great Britain Award in the Best Television Drama category.

If you want to keep up with Lisa McGee and what she does in future, you can find her on social media sites Twitter and Instagram.

We can expect big things from Lisa McGee in the future. Her writing style is endearing, relatable, and fresh, and it will make its way around the world as she continues to break boundaries and write stories that we all want to hear. Make sure you keep an eye out for this Northern Irish writer.

Conclusion

Lisa McGee is a testament to the power of storytelling rooted in personal experience. From her early days growing up in Derry to becoming one of the most celebrated writers on television today, McGee’s journey has been one of passion, resilience, and authenticity. Her work not only entertains but also provides a platform for the voices and experiences of Northern Ireland, bringing a fresh perspective to the global stage. Whether it’s through the laughter of Derry Girls or the tension of her dramatic works, Lisa McGee has firmly established herself as one of her generation’s most exciting and talented writers.