Richard Anthony Bean (born 11 June 1956) is an English playwright.
Born in East Hull, Bean was educated at Hull Grammar School, and then studied social psychology at Loughborough University, graduating with a 2:1 BSc Hons.
In 1995 he wrote the libretto for Stephen McNeff's opera Paradise of Fools, which premiered at the Unicorn Theatre.
His first full-length play, Of Rats and Men, set in a psychology lab, was staged at the Canal Cafe Theatre in 1988 and went on to the Edinburgh Festival.
He adapted it for BBC Radio, starring Anton Lesser, and it was nominated for a Sony Award.