Blasted in London

Graeae Theatre Company presented Blasted in London.  It was at the Soho Theatre from 16 Jan - 3 Feb 2007.  "Graeae will be your guide through Kane’s dark landscapes of human longing and cruelty - from a gleaming hotel room, where two ex-lovers meet, through threats and spite to personal brutality and further, as violence seems to spread like a virus until our world seems engulfed and all is damaged".

The director was Jenny Sealey.  Design was by Jenny Sealey and Jo Paul.  Lighting was by Ian Scott and music by Gregg Fisher.  The actors were Gerard McDermott (Ian), David Toole (soldier) and Jennifer Jay Ellison (Cate).

Graeae is a disabled-led theatre company that profiles the skills of actors, writers and directors with physical and sensory impairments. The artistic approach creates aesthetically accessible productions that include a disabled and non-disabled audience.

Artistic Director Jenny Sealey says "I have always known about Blasted, but I did not really discover the play until recently when I worked on it with two blind directors and a team of actors.  We found the play lent itself perfectly to the Graeae aesthetic, and provided fascinating opportunities for us to take a creative approach to interpreting otherwise non-verbal communication within the script.  Directing a Graeae cast in a play in which so many metaphors surrounding disability exist will present unique challenges. We must ensure the actors own these metaphors. We believe the roles played by someone who is disabled will excavate so much more of Kane’s language and that will emerge from a personal connection with the text. This promises to be an extremely exciting and potentially explosive interpretation.  Blasted remains one of the most cutting edge plays of 20th Century and with only 4 main productions in the UK and in the light of recent events in Iraq and the London bombings this piece remains a testament to the world we live in."

 Click on the top image for more details.

Blasted touring Britain

Theatre North's Blasted, performed in Yorkshire in mid 2006, went on a national tour.  The dates were:

19 Jan 2007 Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax
21 Jan 2007 Lantern Theatre, Sheffield
25-26 Jan 2007 The Lowry, Manchester
1 Feb 2007 The Customs House, South Shields
8 Feb 2007 Aberystwyth Arts Centre
14 Feb 2007 Norwich Arts Centre
20-24 Feb 2007 The Carriageworks, Leeds
28 Feb 2005 The Drill Hall, Lincoln

Click on the image for more details.  Thanks to Martin for the information.

Site visitor Madeleine says (thanks Madeleine):

"I'm sorry to say that although I couldn't wait to see Blasted again I was severely disappointed with Theatre North's adaptation.

Though I know Sarah wrote explicit stage directions that are, though open to interpretation, integral to her work, the dictation of these was a trap that I thought both Theatre North and last year Graeae could and should have avoided. I thought it screamed A Level drama, not at all a well thought out or even thought provoking piece.

I was so excited to see one of Sarah's plays last year, and again when I thought a new version of Blasted may offer more, however neither Ian's were compelling on stage in my opinion - I did not believe either one of them. The hacking cough that when I read the text echoes through my imagination was an empty fake action on stage in Leeds, and tottaly destroyed any reality of Ian for me. As for his fake kisses planted on Cate I felt sorry for the poor actress trying to work with such a man who directs what may have been called a 'feast of filth', but got people talking and snapping awake and looking at theatre. His performance lacked any depth at all for me.

The American accent of the soldier also resonated far too much with an absurd political statement about Bush and Iraq rather than Sarah's possible comments on any war, and the war in our own countries and own lives.

All in all, I hated Theatre North's amateur appearing version of a fascinating and totally fantastic piece of theatre. I hope Sarah has enough sense of humour to be looking down and laughing at their failure rather
than tearing her hair out wondering why she bothered...

...at least there are some of us (definitely the group of ten that I organised to see the play together) who appreciate her work still and believe that if you can't do it well... don't do it.

Thanks for the opportunity to voice my opinion on the production."

4.48 Psychosis in York

York University Drama Society presented 4.48 Psychosis directed by Lisa Blair.  It was on 6, 8 and 10 Mar 2007.  Thanks to Lisa for the information.

Crave in Melbourne, Australia

Mandy Lee directed Crave in Melbourne as part of the La Trobe Moat Festival.  It was on 2-7 Mar 2007 at the Odeon, Union Building.  Thanks to Mandy Lee for the information.

Gesäubert (Cleansed) in Vienna, Austria

Cleansed (Gesäubert) is performed in German in Vienna, Austria from the 25-30 Sept 2007.  It is at the WUK Projektraum.  The director is Jérôme Junoda and the actors are Bernd-Christian Althoff (Carl), Florian Köhler (Tinker), Marie Jung (Grace), Alexander Julian Meile (Graham), Angela Smigoc (woman), Markus Subramaniam (Robin) and Wojo van Brouwer (Rod).  Click on the image for more details.  Thanks to Jérôme for the information.

Phaedra's Love in The Netherlands

Het Nationale Toneel presented a national tour of Phaedra's Love in The Netherlands.  The director was Susanne Kennedy and the actors were Marie-Louise Stheins, Hans Ligtvoet, Merijn de Jong, Annelien van Binsbergen, Flip Filz and Ben Ramakers.  The translation was by Oscar van Woensel, scenery by Lena Müller, costumes Katrin Bombe and music Richard Janssen.

"De 28-jarige Britse schrijfster Sarah Kane liet na haar dood een klein maar confronterend oeuvre achter: Blasted, Phaedra’s Love, Cleansed, Crave en 4.48 Psychosis. Haar werk kenmerkt zich door de extreme mate van fysiek en verbaal geweld tussen mensen. Op bondige en poëtische wijze biedt ze een inkijk in de donkere kanten van de menselijke natuur. In de voetsporen van Euripides, Seneca, Racine, Vondel en Claus schreef Kane haar eigenzinnige, ontregelende, eind 20 eeeuwse Phaedra-versie".

Fotograaf: © Deen van Meer

17-25, 31 Jan and 1-3 Feb 2007 Theater aan de Haven, Den Haag
26 Jan 2007 Schouwburg, Arnhem
5 Feb 2007 Het Kruithuis, Groningen
6 Feb 2007 Schouwburg Ogterop, Meppel
8 Feb 2007 Toneelschuur Haarlem
10 Feb 2007 Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
15 Feb 2007 Theater Concordia, Enschede
22-24 Feb Bellevue, Amsterdam
1 Mar 2007 Theater aan de Parade, Den Bosch
3 Mar 2007 Lux Theater, Nijmegen
8 Mar 2007 Witte Theater, IJmuiden
14-17 Mar Theater aan de Haven, Den Haag

Click on the image for more details.  Thanks to Susanne for the information.

4.48 Psychosis in San Francisco, USA

One4alltheater, an experimental asian american theater company, presented 4.48 Psychosis in San Francisco at the Thick House.  It was on from 14-24 Jun 2007.  The director was Christopher Chen.

Click on the image for more information  Thanks to Christopher for the information.

4.48 Psychosis in Hollywood, USA

Minor Construction presented 4.48 Psychosis is on at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood from 6- 22 Jul 2007.  The producer was Tim McNeil.  The actors were Alex Aves and Will Hawkes.  Thanks to Allan for the information and photos.

Crave in Brighton, UK

Crave performed at the Sussex Arts Club, Brighton on 28-29 Aug 2007.  Directed by Johanna Rosenfeld and produced by Paula Reid.

4.48 Psychosis in Kansas, USA

Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas produced 4:48 Psychosis.  Performances were on 15, 16, 22, 23, 24 Jun 2007. The production was revived on 6, 7, 8, 9 Sept 2007.  Thanks to Sharon for the information.

Crave at the Edinburgh Festival

Little Agitations performed Crave in C Cubed at the Edinburgh Festival,  It was on from 2- 27 Aug 2007.