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Leaves of Glass

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  2f, 2m

Philip Ridley

On the surface, Steven has everything. A beautiful wife, a successful business, a brand new home. But beneath the glittering veneer lies a monstrous secret ...

Leaves of Glass

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2f, 2m

Details

Summary
You believe him cos he wraps all the painful stuff in feathers and flowers. Makes it all safe and cosy. You can't feel the broken glass inside.' Leaves of Glass is a rich, complex play about two brothers and the hold that the past and memory has on them. Haunted by the death of his father and a car accident involving a young child, Steve finds his life unraveling and his pregnant wife unable to comprehend his pain and sense of loss. Known for his dark disturbing dramas, Ridley's latest play is a deeply human drama that shifts between elegy for the past and a chilling exploration of the power of loss and grief.
History
Leaves of Glass was premiered at the Soho Theatre, London, on 3 May 2007.

    Media

    “A brooding and eventually bruising emotional weight… a ferocity of feeling” — The Stage

    “Leaves of Glass is a greatly nuanced family tragedy.” — Broadway World UK

    “A fraught and highly charged drama that unpicks the fragility of memory and storytelling with horrific consequences for those on the wrong end of the 'truth'.” — Everything Theatre

    “It is like a shard of glass plunged straight into the heart.” — The Guardian

    “[Ridley is] a powerful writer with superb control of pace and character.” — The Reviews Hub

    “Lucid and restrained. The writing is packed with meaning. Listen hard. Every word matters.” — The Sunday Times

    “Ridley’s writing is a masterclass in ominous understatement.” — The Stage

    “A turbulent character study of trauma and the deceptions families weave to survive them, Leaves of Glass captivates and provokes, exploring the ever-universal behaviours that we rely on to obscure what haunts us.” — The Upcoming

    “An unforgettable experience.” — Theatre Weekly

    Licensing & Materials

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      This title may have restrictions in place for London based productions. Please submit a licence request to confirm specific availability.

    Scripts

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    Authors

    Philip Ridley

    Philip Ridley
    Philip was born in the East End of London. He studied painting at St Martin’s School of Art. He has written many highly regarded and hugely influential plays: the seminal The Pitchfork Disney, the multi-award-winning The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Ghost from a Perfect Pla ...
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