Penetrator (play)

Last updated

Penetrator
Written by Anthony Neilson
CharactersTadge
Max
Adam
Date premiered12 August 1993 (1993-08-12)
Place premiered Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Original languageEnglish
Genre In-yer-face theatre

Penetrator is a 1993 play by Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson. The play was first performed at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, on 12 August 1993. It transferred to the Finborough Theatre, London, later that year, and subsequently at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, London, on 12 January 1994. It was directed by Anthony Neilson and designed by Michael T. Roberts. [1] It is considered one of the earliest examples of in-yer-face theatre.

Plot

Two friends, 20-somethings Max and Alan are alone, when Tadge, their old school friend from grade school returns from his service in the Gulf War. Tadge's experiences in the military have changed him, and he is no longer the person they once knew.

Related Research Articles

In-yer-face theatre is a term used to describe a confrontational style and sensibility of drama that emerged in Great Britain in the 1990s. This term was borrowed by British theatre critic Aleks Sierz as the title of his book, In-Yer-Face Theatre: British Drama Today, first published by Faber and Faber in March 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finborough Theatre</span> Theatre in London

The Finborough Theatre is a fifty-seat theatre in the West Brompton area of London under artistic director Neil McPherson. The theatre presents new British writing, as well as UK and world premieres of new plays primarily from the English speaking world including North America, Canada, Ireland, and Scotland including work in the Scots language, alongside rarely seen rediscovered 19th and 20th century plays. The venue also presents new and rediscovered music theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Neilson</span> British stage actress (1848–1880)

Lilian Adelaide Neilson, born Elizabeth Ann Brown, was a British stage actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Neilson</span>

Francis Neilson was an accomplished actor; playwright, stage director; political figure; member of the British House of Commons; avid lecturer; author of more than 60 books, plays and opera librettos and the most active leader in the Georgist movement.

Alison Newman is a British actress, best known for her role in the hit ITV1 television series Footballers' Wives as Hazel Bailey, and as DCI Samantha Keeble in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silas Weir Mitchell (actor)</span> American actor (born 1969)

Silas Weir Mitchell is an American character actor. He is known for starring as Charles "Haywire" Patoshik in the Fox television series Prison Break (2005–2007), for the recurring role of Donny Jones in My Name Is Earl (2005–2009), and as Monroe in the NBC television series Grimm (2011–2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Neilson</span> 19th/20th-century English actress

Julia Emilie Neilson was an English actress best known for her numerous performances as Lady Blakeney in The Scarlet Pimpernel, for her roles in many tragedies and historical romances, and for her portrayal of Rosalind in a long-running production of As You Like It.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Terry</span> 19th/20th-century English actor

Fred Terry was an English actor and theatrical manager. After establishing his reputation in London and in the provinces for a decade, he joined the company of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree where he remained for four years, meeting his future wife, Julia Neilson. With Neilson, he played in London and on tour for 27 further years, becoming famous in sword and cape roles, such as the title role in The Scarlet Pimpernel.

<i>The Wonderful World of Dissocia</i>

The Wonderful World of Dissocia is a play written and directed by Anthony Neilson about a young woman suffering from dissociative disorder. The idea was originally workshopped with a group of students at LAMDA in 2002 but was later re-written and produced for the Glasgow's Tron Theatre at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2004. The play won Neilson the 2004-5 CATS award for Best New Play and the production secured Best Director award for Neilsen, Best Actress award for Christine Entwisle (Lisa) and Best Design for Miriam Buether. In December 2009 The List magazine included the work in its "Best of a Decade" compilation. It toured England in 2007, making its London debut at the Royal Court Theatre in March 2007.

Anthony Neilson is a Scottish playwright and director. He is known for his collaborative way of writing and workshopping his plays. Much of his work is characterised by the exploration of sex and violence.

Stuart McQuarrie is a Scottish actor who has starred in several acclaimed films, including Trainspotting and 28 Days Later. Besides numerous film and TV appearances McQuarrie has performed extensively in theatre throughout the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Working Man's Clothes</span>

Working Man's Clothes Productions is a New York City theater company that was founded in January 2005. It is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. It has won a number of awards including IT-Awards. The company name was taken from a line of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Common sense is genius dressed in working man's clothes." The company focuses on new works by emerging playwrights. The company has produced at such venues as 59East59, Under St. Mark's, Gene Frankel Theatre, and The Ohio Theatre in SoHo. The company is a member of OOBCOM, a community of Off-Off Broadway Theatre Artists.

<i>Normal: The Düsseldorf Ripper</i>

Normal is Anthony Neilson's fictional account of Peter Kürten's life, told from the point of view of his lawyer. It is considered to be Neilson's breakthrough play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Neilson-Terry</span> British actor and theatre manager (1895–1932)

Dennis Neilson-Terry was a British actor, theatre manager and producer, who starred in a number of films between 1917 and 1932.

Catherine Neilson is a British stage, television and film actress, who was active from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry family</span>

The Terry family was a British theatrical dynasty of the late 19th century and beyond. The family includes not only those members with the surname Terry, but also Neilsons, Craigs and Gielguds, to whom the Terrys were linked by marriage or blood ties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phyllis Neilson-Terry</span> English actress (1892–1977)

Phyllis Neilson-Terry was an English actress. She was a member of the third generation of the theatrical dynasty the Terry family. After early successes in the classics, including several leading Shakespearean roles, she spent more than four years in the US, in generally lightweight presentations.

Lisa Goldman is a British theatre director, dramaturg, writer and author. She was Artistic Director and joint Chief Executive of Soho Theatre (2006–10) and The Red Room Theatre Company which she founded (1995-2006). In 2008 Lisa was included in the London Evening Standard’s ‘Influentials’ list as one of the 1000 most influential people in London.

Penetrator may refer to:

Stitching is a play by Anthony Neilson. It premiered at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh on 1st August 2002 and later transferred to the Bush Theatre in London on 12 September 2002.

References

  1. "Penetrator". rudeguerrilla.org.