Fruit

Synopsis

A chaotic osteopath’s office in London, where the bones of the establishment are cracked and realigned.

In Howard Brenton’s anarchic and scathing play Fruit, an embittered osteopath becomes the unlikely conduit for a blistering critique of British politics and society. As he manipulates the spines of his influential patients, the osteopath unravels their secrets and his own sanity, launching into violent tirades against the hypocrisy and corruption of those in power. Through a series of increasingly outrageous encounters, Brenton peels back the veneer of respectability to reveal the rotten core of the establishment.

Brenton’s uncompromising satire eschews traditional narrative structure in favour of a chaotic, almost stream-of-consciousness style that mirrors the protagonist’s fractured psyche. The play’s dark humour and shocking set-pieces serve as a metaphor for the destruction of societal norms, challenging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about power and privilege. While some may find Fruit difficult to digest, its raw energy and unflinching critique of the status quo make it a significant work of political theatre that continues to resonate in today’s polarised climate.