Stripwell

Synopsis

A judge’s stately home, the buzzing streets of London, and the untamed depths of the jungle—where societal norms and personal vendettas collide.

Graham Stripwell, a judge with a strict moral compass, finds his world turned upside down when he sentences Cargill to prison. Cargill vows revenge, promising to one day murder Stripwell. At home, Stripwell’s life is no less chaotic, shared with his wife Dodie and his cantankerous father-in-law Jarrow Houghton, a former Labour politician. The tension escalates as Stripwell’s professional and personal lives intertwine, leading to a series of darkly comic and politically charged confrontations.

Barker’s work is noted for its dark humour and incisive commentary on power, corruption, and human folly. The play challenges audiences to consider the true nature of justice and the often blurred lines between order and chaos. Stripwell is a vivid and thought-provoking examination of how personal grudges and societal structures can clash with devastating consequences.