The Pillowman

Description

A man, a writer of short stories, is held in police custody in a totalitarian state. He doesn't know why he is being held but assumes it must be something to do with his writing. Many of his stories involve children being killed and tortured. His brother, who has learning difficulties, is also being held. As the play unfolds the police tell him that someone is enacting the stories. He assumes he is being set up and will be killed but then we find his brother, who is retarded, has been carrying out the killings . . .

Martin McDonagh was born in London and has since worked as a playwright, screenwriter and film director. His first play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, was nominated for six Tony awards, of which it won four, and the Laurence Olivier Award. In 2003, his play The Pillowman had its world premiere at the Royal National Theatre and received the 2004 Olivier Award. In 2006, Martin McDonagh won an Oscar for his short film Six Shooter. His most recent works include, A Behanding in Spokane, The Guard and Seven Psychopaths.

"Energizing . . . a blindingly bright black comedy." --Ben Brantley, The New York Times "A complex tale about life and art, about fact and illusion, about politics, society, cruelty and creativity." --Alastair Macaulay, Financial Times "Martin McDonagh, master of bad taste in black comedy's cause and persistent enfant terrible, leaps towards maturity in this dazzling, disquieting nightmare of a play which makes up its own Grimm fairy-tales." --Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard "A play of extraordinary power and stunning theatrical bravura." --Michael Coveney, Daily Mail