Rory Mullarkey

The Private misses the farm. The Captain dreams of painting. The Corporal relishes the fight. And a hundred years later, The Woman seeks to understand. 1916 – In the darkness of the French night, three young soldiers, a private, a corporal and a captain, cross no man's land towards the enemy trench. Stealth is key to their survival and so they walk in silence, with nothing to communicate the thoughts in their heads save for the barest of gestures. 2014 – A woman goes on a day trip to visit the touristic monuments commemorating the Battle of the Somme at Vimy Ridge and the Loghnagar Crater – the site of a mine explosion that killed over 6,000 people – where she encounters remembrance, restaurants and bright, themed gift shops. Each Slow Dusk is a startling play about action, humanity, and the legacy of war. Immersing you in the reality of conflict through vivid, thrilling detail, it gives you a fresh way of thinking about war – from the past soldiers' perspective to the woman's present-day experience. Each Slow Dusk was published to coincide with the first production and national tour of the play by Pentabus Rural Theatre Company, in autumn, 2014.

Two plays made up of ten short stories that bring together the wild imaginations of school children with major writers from the North East of England. Based on the pioneering Live Tales creative writing model at Live Theatre in Newcastle, placing children's authorship at the centre of the creative process, Wintry Tales offers a series of brilliant, alternative takes on the Christmas story. A mysterious bout of snowfall in ASDA A wizard detective with a love of hot chocolate A lonely polar bear seeking another sharp-toothed friend An elf kickstarting a worker's revolution Simple in form but deliciously rich in ideas, these explosive dramatic works can be performed by just two actors on either a packed or empty stage. It's all about the words! And the outrageous ideas behind them… The perfect book for anyone seeking an alternative Christmas offering, whether to read, perform or watch live onstage. Rory Mullarkey is one of the UK's leading playwrights with a major body of work that spans The National Theatre, The Globe, The Royal Court Theatre and beyond. Lisette Auton is a hugely prominent disabled writer, and author of the major books for children The Secret of Haven Point, The Stickleback Catchers, and Lights Up.

A remarkable writer - an original fresh voice, with a sharp political edge (Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director the Royal Court Theatre). British writer Rory Mullarkey is the winner of the Harold Pinter Commission, the James Tait Black Prize for Drama and the George Devine Award for most promising playwright. His original work has been staged at the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. His first play collection brings together three previously published plays with two unpublished works. A writer of "considerable talent" (Telegraph), this is a powerful and diverse collection from an established contemporary voice. Single Sex : "a truly disturbing and twisted tale of obsession" (Culture Bean) Tourism : A compelling and humorous take on modern cultural identities. Cannibals : "Brilliantly exciting drama" (Independent) Wolf From the Door : "Fervent and bracingly original...laced with exuberant absurdity and moments of twisted humour..." (Evening Standard) Each Slow Dusk : 'A great war play, original and richly reflective in form . . . [It] encapsulates the British soldier's experience in under an hour . . . Remarkable.' ReviewsGate

This collection of three plays for young performers from multi-award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey offers astutely relevant and powerfully theatrical pieces of drama. Each offering large and flexible casts for non-gender specific performers, they are perfect for performances and study by young performers aged 13-23. Presented in the style of eloquent contemporary verse, Flood explores the consequences of global warming and salvaging hope in the midst of despair. The play was originally commissioned by National Youth Theatre and was performed at Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation in 2018. The Grandfathers explores the personal experience of warfare and what it takes to train to fight for your country. The play was first performed as part of National Theatre Connections, 2012, before being revived at Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre's Shed. Through a collection of vignettes, On The Threshing Floor captures the speed, strangeness and confusion of living through pivotal moments of history. The play premiered at Hampstead Theatre and uses a large ensemble cast exploring themes of work, government and society. Popular with drama schools, youth groups and young people, this collection provides an excellent resource for those looking for large-scale and flexible plays to produce, perform and study.

We don't actually drink coffee at my coffee morning. – What do you do, then? – We discuss the violent overthrow of the government. Also, there's flower arranging. In this intensely imaginative and daringly brave-thinking play, award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey imagines a wild road trip across Middle England. Together, Lady Catherine and her young protégé Leo enlist every tearoom, hot yoga class and Women's Institute group on a mission to change the country forever. This play was the 2014 Pinter Commission and the winner of the George Devine Award.It received its world premiere production at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs on 10 September 2014, starring Anna Chancellor as Lady Catherine and directed by James Macdonald.

But I do have a job. I'm a professional viscount. Things aren't looking good for Theodore 'Tug' Bungay. His mother, Lady Agrippina, has a plan to cut off his funds. His fed-up fiancée wants to drag him up the aisle. An oligarch is eyeing up his beloved Northumberland castle. Is Tug's dissolute life about to change completely? Or will he get to carry on doing exactly as he pleases without ever facing any consequences? Rory Mullarkey's riotous new play takes inspiration from Wilde and Wodehouse to create a contemporary comedy of manners set among the dwellers of south-west London who – somehow – remain our country's ruling class. This edition is published to coincide with the world premiere at London's Royal Court Theatre, in November 2023.

On a farm, in a village, on the fringe of Europe, life is simple but hard. When the sweeping forces of war and progress pass through, Lizaveta must run for her life. Finding shelter on an old woman's farm, she tries to piece her life back together. But her past catches up with her and she must keep moving. Her journey through a land of mud and blood, icon painters and holy fools, takes her across continents to the other side of the world. Through Lizaveta's eyes familiar places and notions of love, family and identity become distant and strange. Cannibals is a bold and unique play by Manchester playwright, Rory Mullarkey. It is his first full-length play, written while he was Pearson Playwright in Residence at the Royal Exchange in 2011.

Two bombs in one day is a foul coincidence Don't forget the lightning strike A normal day. A person stands in the market square watching the world go by. What happens next verges on the ridiculous. There's ice cream. Sunshine. Shops. Some dogs. A wedding. Bombs. Candles. Blood. Lightning. Sandwiches. Snipers. Looting. Gunshots. Babies. Actors. Azaleas. Famine. Fountains. Statues. Atrocities. And tanks. (Probably). Rory Mullarkey's new play asks whether things really are getting worse. And if we care.