A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

The Room

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  2w, 4m

Harold Pinter

Harold Pinter’s first play, written in 1957, is the earliest example of Pinter's “comedy of menace” – a surreal and dark portrait of an elderly couple that is both humourous and disturbing.

The Room

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
Rose and Bert rent a room that might almost be a paleolithic cave; the outside is terrifying and unknown. Rose never goes out, and Bert only goes to drive his van with furious aggression. A young couple call, and then a blind black man. Bert comes home, massive with triumph at smashing every car that challenged his van. Finding the stranger, he kicks him to death and Rose goes blind.
History
The Room was first produced by the Hampstead Theatre Club on 21 January 1960, and subsequently at the Royal Court Theatre on 8 March 1960. Directed by Anthony Page, the production featured Michael Brennan, Vivien Merchant, John Cater, Michael Caine, Anne Bishop and Thomas Baptiste.
Cast Attributes
BERT HUDD – A man of 50
ROSE – A woman of 60
MR KIDD – An old man
MR SANDS – A young husband
MRS SANDS – His young wife
RILEY
  • Time Period Present Day, 1950s
  • Setting A room in a large house. The present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £40 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
    Performance rights for this title are currently withdrawn in the UK. To be informed as soon as it becomes available in the future, please submit a license application.

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Authors

Harold Pinter

Harold Pinter

Harold Pinter (1930-2008) was born in London on October 10, 1930. He lived with Antonia Fraser from 1975 until his death on Christmas Eve 2008. (They were married in 1980).

After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama, he worke ...

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