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The Heretic

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  3w, 3m

In this provocative dark comedy, a lead academic in Earth Sciences, at odds with the orthodoxy over the causes of climate change, finds herself increasingly vilified by her colleagues and political opponents.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Best Play

Details

Summary

The study of climate science is the cool degree at the university where Dr Diane Cassell is a lead academic in Earth Sciences. At odds with the orthodoxy over the causes of climate change, she finds herself increasingly vilified and is forced to ask whether the issue is becoming political as well as personal. Could the belief in anthropogenic global warming be the most attractive religion of the 21st century? What evidence do we need before deciding on policy?


DR DIANE CASSELL – 40s. Palaeogeophysics and geodynamics lecturer.
BEN SHOTTER – 19. An Earth Sciences undergraduate.
PHOEBE – 21. Dr Cassell’s daughter. 
GEOFF TORDOFF – 40s. Site Services for the University Campus, with a brief for Security.
PROFESSOR KEVIN MALONEY – 50s. Head of Faculty Earth Sciences.
CATHERINE TICKELL – 20s. Human Resources Officer.

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    An office, a kitchen. The present.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

★★★★ “[A] very funny, topical new take on earth sciences.” – WhatsOnStage

“A riotous comedy.” – The Independent

“An absolute corker, funny provocative and touching, and absolutely resolute in its refusal to lapse into the apocalyptic gloom that usually attends this subject.” – The Telegraph

“Provocative, funny, contrarian and stimulating.” – The Guardian

“Clever, imaginative and entertaining.” – London Evening Standard

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Richard Bean

Richard Bean was born in Hull in 1956. After school, he worked in a bread plant before leaving to study Social Psychology at Loughborough University. Richard has worked as a psychologist and a stand-up comedian. His work for the stage includes: Young Marx (which just opened L ...

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