It's My Criminal

Synopsis

A neglected allotment on a summer afternoon. Nettles choke the ground, and an old shed stands sentinel over dark secrets.

Mike, a volatile young man, has trapped Georgie, an older would-be burglar, in the shed of an allotment owned by the unseen and mysterious Jenkins. As Georgie breaks free, a tense cat-and-mouse game of deception and manipulation unfolds. Mike’s unpredictable behaviour confuses and disorients Georgie as they navigate a series of unsettling events, including a meal of dog meat and encounters with a blonde doll replica of Mike’s possibly murdered sister. The arrival of Jenkins – or perhaps his dummy – in a wheelchair adds to the growing sense of unease and unreality. As the play progresses, the lines between truth and fiction, victim and aggressor become increasingly blurred, culminating in a chilling and ambiguous conclusion.

Brenton’s play delves into themes of power, corruption, and moral ambiguity in a world devoid of a moral centre. Through sharp, colloquial dialogue and a harder writing style, Brenton explores the darker sides of human nature, where individuals manipulate and betray each other in endless battles for dominance. The play’s nightmarish quality is punctuated by moments of dark humour, particularly in Georgie’s criminal ineptitude. It’s My Criminal stands as an early example of Brenton’s theatrical experimentation, regarded by the author as novice work and no longer available for performance. It offers a glimpse into a young playwright’s process of self-education in theatre, tackling complex themes with a raw, uncompromising vision.