The Methuen Drama Book of 21st Century British Plays Blue/Orange; Elmina's Kitchen; Realism; Gone Too Far!; Pornography

by Neilson, Anthony; Agbaje, Bola; Penhall, Joe; Kwei-Armah, Kwame; Stephens, Simon; Sierz, Aleks

• ISBN13: 9781408123911
• ISBN10: 1408123916
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-05-15
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama

Summary

This collection showcases the five best new plays from the first decade of the twenty-first century and perfectly reflects why British theatre is regarded as the epicenter of vitality, relevance and innovation in drama and the performing arts. Blue/Orangeis Joe Penhall's award-winning play set in a mental hospital which provides a riveting exploration of racism, health and power. "One of the best new plays in the National's history" Sunday Times. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play. Elmina's Kitchenby Kwame Kwei-Armah centers around gun crime and the struggle to make a living on Hackney's Murder Mile and marked the emergence of a major new writing talent. "An exquisite tragi-comedy for our times. "The Herald Neilson's Realismdramatizes the everyday life and increasingly bizarre fantasies and thoughts of its protagonist with comic zeal and inspired inventiveness. Gone Too Far!explores a London community divided by race and prejudice. Pornographyby Simon Stephens tells seven entwining stories of people's lives during the day leading up to the catastrophic event of the London 7/7 terrorist bombings.

Author Biography

Joe Penhall is the author of screenplay Enduring Love for Film Four, based on the Ian McEwan novel, the three-part TV drama Moses Jones besides a number of stage plays. 

 

Kwame Kwei-Armah's most recent play, Let There Be Love was produced at the Tricycle Theatre, London.

 

Anthony Neilson is an Artistic Associate of National Theatre of Scotland and a creator of pioneering, taboo-breaking new work.

 

Bola Agbaje had her first play Gone Too Far! produced at the Royal Court.

 

Simon Stephens won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for On the Shore of the Wide World. 

 

Editor Aleks Sierz is the theatre critic of Tribune and a freelance theatre reviewer. His seminal study, In-Yer-Face Theatre, defined a new generation of writers and their work.