On the night of 24th March 1895, Mrs Robinson, a society palm-reader, agreed to see Oscar Wilde in her London flat. Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, ‘Bosie’, was urging him to sue the Marquis of Queensberry (Bosie’s father) for criminal libel. But Wilde’s friends, wary of Queensberry’s power, were warning him to leave town. In Extremis reveals the strange turmoil of that night, as a man at the height of his fame turns to a complete stranger for advice about a potentially life-changing decision. In Extremis was first presented in November 2000 at the National Theatre alongside De Profundis to mark the centenary of Oscar Wilde’s death.
The heart of Europe. 1942. Children playing, lovers’ tiffs, a deserted train station and a ramp rising towards a hangar. This is what you can see, but what should the Red Cross Representative’s report say?
[i]'No scars at all. Which, when you think about it, is maybe not such a good sign’[i] Catherine was fifteen when she was found. She and her mother shared a secret world in an anonymous one-bedroom flat in London. No one is even sure if she’s ever left the room she was found in. She can’t walk and can’t speak. Her recovery seems impossible. But young people can be shockingly resilient, especially with inspired medical care. Sponsored by a fundraising drive led by a tabloid newspaper, her only living relative has been able to get Catherine the best private care that money can buy. She responds well to the experimental treatment. But she seems to be getting more violent, and remains stubbornly resistant to language. Or is she? Soon, Catherine’s doctors and half-sister begin to discover what it is, exactly, that they’ve uncovered… A fairytale of modern Britain, inspired by true events. iStone Face[/i] received its world premiere at the Finborough Theatre, London, in May 2016.
As the Great War gathers pace, Agnes and her sister Edith revel in their new-found independence and prosperity as Barnbow lasses. Not only does their danger money buy them a new life of confidence, men, work and politics but the thrill of a new future with friendship and freedom. In the wake of the catastrophic 1916 explosion, the women discover the true cost of the cry for ‘More Shells!’ Alice Nutter ( My Generation ) brings her unique voice to this incredible story of Yorkshire grit, determination and solidarity, marking 100 years since the largest ever single loss of life in the history of Leeds.
[i]‘I don’t believe in heroes and cowards. Not in war. It’s only my opinion but I’ve been in it since the beginning.’[/i] The 306: Dawn is a new piece of music theatre from the National Theatre of Scotland as part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. Based on real events, it charts the journey of three of the British soldiers who were executed for cowardice, desertion and mutiny during World War I (1914-18). Joseph Byers is too young to enlist but like so many at the time, lies about his age to join the other men at the front. However, his dreams of being a soldier are quickly destroyed by the brutal realities of trench warfare. Lance-Sergeant Willie Stones used his rifle to block the entrance to a trench during fierce fighting. Now Willie stands accused of casting away his arms in combat – an offence punishable by death. He thought he was protecting his men, but the top brass want to make an example of him to maintain discipline in the ranks. And Harry Farr is traumatised by the things he has seen at the Battle of the Somme. He has subsequently been convicted of cowardice and, as he waits to hear his fate, he dreams of his wife and hopes for a last minute reprieve. With a contemporary score performed live by the Red Note Ensemble, the play explores the vulnerability and devastation of the battlefields and the inner struggles of the men.
‘I have injured no man’s reputation, taken no man’s property, attacked no man’s person, violated no oath, taught no immorality.I was asked a question and answered it openly.’ Cheltenham, 1842. George Jacob Holyoake is a poor young teacher, making his way from Birmingham to Bristol to visit a friend who has been imprisoned for publishing a journal that criticises the establishment. When he makes a stop in Cheltenham to address a lecture, his words and his overwhelming commitment to speaking the truth will change his life forever. Arrested and tried for blasphemy, and separated from his starving wife and child, Holyoake is faced with the choice of conforming or staying true to his beliefs in a time of injustice and intolerance. Based on the true story of the last man to stand trial for blasphemy in England, A Subject of Scandal and Concern was originally written for television in 1960 starring Richard Burton and Rachel Roberts, and directed by Tony Richardson, and was first seen onstage in Nottingham in the early 1960s. A Subject of Scandal and Concern received its London premiere at the Finborough Theatre in May 2016, marking the first theatrical staging of the play in over 40 years.
A Boeing 777 begins its descent towards Heathrow. The wheels unfold out of the belly of the plane. The frozen body of a stowaway is tipped out and cuts through the clear morning sky. In the car park of B&Q, Andy looks up. Something is falling out of the sky. A man crash-lands on the ground in front of him. Stowaway is a story about a man from India who finds himself far from home and adrift from everything he knows. He hides in the wheel arch of a commercial airliner bound for the UK, in a bid to change his life. Stowaway is the story of an extraordinary journey in search of an impossible future. But what are the rules of telling someone’s story when they come from a world so different from our own?
As Alice and Ben settle into their beautiful new flat they realise that the family across the hall hope to be more than just good neighbours. Soon, Juliette, Gilles, and their son François are wearing out the welcome mat; suggesting drinks, hors d’oeuvres and dancing. Things begin to heat up as innocent invitations lead to passionate encounters and unsettling revelations. Written by award-winning Quebecois playwright Catherine- Anne Toupin, Right Now is a play with a dark heart, a disquieting exploration of one woman’s crisis and darkest desires. It walks a delicate line between playful laughter and deep trauma, teasing and thrilling audiences from beginning to end.
‘Happy 17th Birthday Crookshank, how ‘bout a cup of SUCK IT THE F**K UP?!’ 'With over 4 million views on Channel 4 News online and a critically acclaimed run at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, multi-award nominated Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is based on the true story of ex Airwoman Crookshank and her time serving in the Royal Air Force protecting the UK Air Defence Region. Charting her journey from basic training to the Falkland Islands. She celebrates friendship, awakens her creativity, and uncovers the dark truths about sexual harassment and bullying in the armed forces. A heart-warming tale of courage and survival. Per ardua ad astra – through adversity to the stars… Warning: Contains strong language, weapons, and penguins.
'Hooking up when you’re legless never did run smooth Laura and Jake just want sex. Late Friday night drunken sex. Nothing more. No strings attached. But getting your leg over is sometimes more difficult than you think. Wendy Hoose is a no-holds-barred smash hit comedy about two twenty-year-olds searching for love in all the wrong places!