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2008

Bliss

Written by Olivier Choiniere

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Dominic Cooke

Translated by 
Caryl Churchill

Original Language 
French

Dates Performed

Sunday 23rd March 2008
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

A Wal-Mart store

Isabelle, a frail and bedridden woman whose life revolves around her idol Céline, experiences a blend of reality and hallucination, culminating in a grotesque transformation that blurs the lines between her identity and her idol’s. The play critiques consumer culture and the often toxic nature of fandom, exploring how personal anguish can become intertwined with public adoration.

The play delves into themes of identity and self-discovery, the power of celebrity, social inequality, family dynamics, and the grotesque nature of human suffering. Structured as a non-linear, episodic dark comedy, “Bliss” uses a mix of direct audience address and surreal imagery to create a visceral theatrical experience.

Director(s)

Joe Hill-Gibbins

Photo credit

All images credited to Tristram Kenton

Cast & Creative

Cast

Brid Brennan

Cast

Neil Dudgeon

Cast

Hayley Carmichael

Designer

Jeremy Herbert

Lighting

Nigel Edwards

Sound

Christopher Shutt


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