Leaves of Glass
By Philip Ridley
Directed by Max Harrison
‘That’s the way it works in this family. Believe what you wanna believe. Twist this. Ignore the other. That’s how we survive.’
East London. 2023.
Steven has always tried to be a good person. He works hard. He looks after his family. But, suddenly, everyone starts accusing him of things. His wife accuses him of being unfaithful. His mother accuses him of being coercive. And his brother, Barry, accuses him of…what exactly?
Barry won’t say. Or can’t. Or perhaps…Steven hasn’t done anything at all.
Following its critically acclaimed run at Soho Theatre premiere in 2007, Philip Ridley’s four-hander is a gripping narrative of memory, manipulation, and power – now regarded as a modern classic – returns for the first time in 16 years with a new production by longtime collaborators, Lidless Theatre.
Previous praise for Lidless Theatre:
★★★★ ‘It somehow speaks of the horror and confusion of trauma, unflinching love in the face of howling pain, and above all, it’s incredibly playful and funny and sweet.’ Spy in the Stalls (Tender Napalm, King’s Head Theatre)
★★★★ ‘Harrison.. creat[es] a fresh and vibrant version of the play, which is breathtakingly beautiful and deeply devastating’ Theatre Weekly (Tender Napalm, King’s Head Theatre)
★★★★ ‘Intimate, intense and deeply romantic’ The Stage (Tender Napalm, King’s Head Theatre)
★★★★ ‘Compelling. Devastating. Exhilaratingly energetic.’ The Stage (Moonfleece, Pleasance Theatre)
Praise for the original production:
★★★★ ‘It is like a shard of glass plunged straight into the heart’ The Guardian
‘A brooding and eventually bruising emotional weight… a ferocity of feeling’ The Stage
★★★★ ‘Lucid and restrained. The writing is packed with meaning. Listen hard. Every word matters’ Sunday Times
More about Philip Ridley HERE