Morning

Description

'I missed first time. I could feel his skull caving in. It was like a shell.' Morning - a play for young people - is the latest offering from acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens, written after a workshop involving actors from the Young Company at the Lyric, Hammersmith and the Theater, Basel, Switzerland. It's the end of summer in a small, claustrophobic town and two friends are about to go their separate ways: one to university; the other will be staying local. But no matter what separates them, they will always share one moment: a moment that changed them forever. This dark coming-of-age play, to be performed by the Lyric Young Company, is a disturbing look at the cruel acts we are capable of committing; our society's numbness to physical pain; and the consequences of our actions. This programme text will coincide with the Lyric's production of the play at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh as part of the Festival (2 - 22nd September) followed by a brief run at the Lyric Hammersmith, London in September.

Simon Stephens has been the recipient of both the Pearson Award for Best New Play 2001-2 for his play Port, and the Olivier Award for Best New Play 2005 for On the Shore of the Wide World. His recent plays include Harper Regan (National Theatre), Punk Rock (Lyric Hammersmith/Royal Exchange, Manchester), Pornography (Traverse and Birmingham Rep), Wastwater (Royal Court and Wiener Festwochen), The Trial of Ubu (Hampstead Theatre) and Three Kingdoms (Lyric Hammersmith).

A brilliant writer of immense imagination with an acute observation of people's foibles * Independent * [A] dark, beautiful, intricately layered work * Lyn Gardner on Country Music, The Guardian * Simon Stephens's marvellous and moving new play lasts for little more than an hour but feels like an epic. * Charles Spencer on 'Country Music', The Daily Telegraph * A shocking and savage play ... all this is no joy to watch ... but ... utterly compelling ... Morning shows us the world as it is, not how we fondly imagine it to be. -- Lyn Gardner * Guardian * Its power comes from its absolute authenticity ... atmospheric and grimly compelling -- Alice Jones * Independent * Theatrically daring and uncompromising -- Sarah Hemming * Financial Times *