Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Vicky Featherstone
Dates Performed
Friday 21st July 2017
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Play Details
Synopsis
A gritty council estate in northern England, where dreams and despair collide on one long, turbulent night.
Scullery, a charismatic but troubled local, guides us through the lives of the Road’s residents as they grapple with poverty, unemployment, and the search for meaning. We encounter a diverse cast of characters, including young lovers Joey and Clare embarking on a hunger strike, the nostalgic Professor documenting the area’s decline, and Carol and Louise, two young women looking for excitement with a pair of local lads.
Jim Cartwright’s “Road” is a raw, poetic exploration of life on the margins of Thatcher’s Britain. Through a series of vignettes that blend naturalistic dialogue with moments of surreal lyricism, the play captures the resilience, humor, and desperation of a community struggling to find hope in the face of economic devastation. The use of direct address and a fluid, dreamlike structure blurs the lines between performance and reality, inviting the audience to become part of the Road’s vibrant, troubled world.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Michelle Fairley
Cast
Mark Hadfield
Cast
Faye Marsay
Cast
Mike Noble
Cast
Dan Parr
Cast
June Watson
Cast
Liz White
Cast
Shane Zaza
Designer
Chloe Lamford
Sound
Gareth Fry
Cast and crew Q&A session following a performance of Jim Cartwright’s Road at the Royal Court Theatre. Discussion covers the play’s staging, its portrayal of working-class life, and its relevance to contemporary audiences. Includes insights into the creative process and reflections on the play’s themes of community and resilience.
