After studying English and Drama, Alan MacDonald started working life in a travelling theatre company, visiting schools all over the country and writing much of their material. He says it was a useful apprenticeship — if the audience didn’t like the play, they talked through it or threw bits of paper at the actors. He very quickly learned what children liked.
In addition to writing and directing plays, Alan has also trained as a drama teacher. He has written stories and dramas for the BBC (both television and radio), as well as many children’s books. A keen football fan, Alan has supported Watford FC since childhood. Many of his stories have a football focus — which he rates as the next best thing to playing for England!
The Trolls series tells the story of the Troll family forced to move from their Native Norway to somewhere very like Milton Keynes. Some of the published credits of Alan MacDonald include Trolls United, Scaredy Mouse and Trolls, Go Home!