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In Bruges director Martin McDonagh returns to Royal Court with new play In Bruges director Martin McDonagh returns to Royal Court with new play
(10 days later)
Martin McDonagh, the playwright and writer/director of the films In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, is to return to the London stage with his first new UK play in 10 years.Martin McDonagh, the playwright and writer/director of the films In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, is to return to the London stage with his first new UK play in 10 years.
The Royal Court theatre will stage McDonagh’s new play Hangmen, telling the story of Britain’s second best-known executioner on the day in 1965 that the British government announces it is abolishing capital punishment.The Royal Court theatre will stage McDonagh’s new play Hangmen, telling the story of Britain’s second best-known executioner on the day in 1965 that the British government announces it is abolishing capital punishment.
Details were revealed as the Royal Court announced its autumn season which, strikingly, includes three plays sent in on spec.Details were revealed as the Royal Court announced its autumn season which, strikingly, includes three plays sent in on spec.
Vicky Featherstone, its artistic director, said the McDonagh play was very exciting. “It is a fantastic piece of writing, in typical Martin McDonagh fashion. It is dark and surreal and shocking and challenging and it is amazing to have a play from him after 10 years.”Vicky Featherstone, its artistic director, said the McDonagh play was very exciting. “It is a fantastic piece of writing, in typical Martin McDonagh fashion. It is dark and surreal and shocking and challenging and it is amazing to have a play from him after 10 years.”
It is something of a homecoming in that McDonagh’s first trilogy of plays, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara and The Lonesome West, all played at the Royal Court in the late 1990s. His other plays include The Cripple of Inishmaan, revived in London and New York in 2013-14 starring Daniel Radcliffe; and The Pillowman, which premiered at the National theatre in 2003.It is something of a homecoming in that McDonagh’s first trilogy of plays, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara and The Lonesome West, all played at the Royal Court in the late 1990s. His other plays include The Cripple of Inishmaan, revived in London and New York in 2013-14 starring Daniel Radcliffe; and The Pillowman, which premiered at the National theatre in 2003.
Set in an Oldham pub, Hangmen tells the story of Harry, a fictional character described as Britain’s second best-known hangman. Albert Pierrepoint, the UK’s most famous executioner, will feature as a secondary character in the play directed by Matthew Dunster.Set in an Oldham pub, Hangmen tells the story of Harry, a fictional character described as Britain’s second best-known hangman. Albert Pierrepoint, the UK’s most famous executioner, will feature as a secondary character in the play directed by Matthew Dunster.
By coincidence rather than design, it will follow another play exploring capital punishment, Debbie Tucker Green’s Hang.By coincidence rather than design, it will follow another play exploring capital punishment, Debbie Tucker Green’s Hang.
Featherstone said they were very different but admitted: “I never thought I’d do one play about hanging let alone two. It is a very different approach and Martin’s play was so brilliant that we couldn’t not do it.”Featherstone said they were very different but admitted: “I never thought I’d do one play about hanging let alone two. It is a very different approach and Martin’s play was so brilliant that we couldn’t not do it.”
The other plays in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs include a US import, RoosevElvis, by a Brooklyn-based experimental theatre ensemble called the TEAM. The spirits of Theodore Roosevelt and Elvis Presley embark on what is described as “a hallucinatory road trip from the Badlands to Graceland”.The other plays in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs include a US import, RoosevElvis, by a Brooklyn-based experimental theatre ensemble called the TEAM. The spirits of Theodore Roosevelt and Elvis Presley embark on what is described as “a hallucinatory road trip from the Badlands to Graceland”.
The third is Linda by Penelope Skinner, which has as its main character a 55-year-old woman “in her prime and embarking on her most ambitious plan to date”.The third is Linda by Penelope Skinner, which has as its main character a 55-year-old woman “in her prime and embarking on her most ambitious plan to date”.
All three plays in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs are by writers who sent in their scripts speculatively, perhaps giving hope to budding playwrights or those with a long-forgotten manuscript in the bottom drawer.All three plays in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs are by writers who sent in their scripts speculatively, perhaps giving hope to budding playwrights or those with a long-forgotten manuscript in the bottom drawer.
“It is always very thrilling when that happens,” said Featherstone, stressing that all plays are read. “We are genuinely open and hungry and always looking for what the next story is.”“It is always very thrilling when that happens,” said Featherstone, stressing that all plays are read. “We are genuinely open and hungry and always looking for what the next story is.”
The three are Lela & Co, by Cordelia Lynn, a debut play based on true-life events in Albania; Plaques and Tangles, by Nicola Wilson, which tackles Alzheimer’s; and You for Me for You, by a Korean-American playwright, Mia Chung, about two sisters attempting to flee North Korea. The three are Lela & Co, by Cordelia Lynn, debuting her first ever play; Plaques and Tangles, by Nicola Wilson, which tackles Alzheimer’s; and You for Me for You, by a Korean-American playwright, Mia Chung, about two sisters attempting to flee North Korea.