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1958

The Catalyst

Written by Ronald Duncan

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
George Devine

Dates Performed

Tuesday 25th March 1958
Arts Theatre Club

Play Details

Synopsis

A tastefully decorated flat in London. The air is thick with tension and unspoken desires.

Charles, a middle-aged doctor, finds himself caught between his wife Therese and his young secretary Leone. As the three navigate their complex relationships and suppressed feelings, long-held secrets and desires bubble to the surface. What begins as a conventional love triangle evolves into a provocative exploration of marriage, sexuality, and the fluid nature of love and desire.

The Catalyst is a daring examination of unconventional relationships and the limitations of traditional marriage. Duncan’s witty and incisive dialogue peels back layers of social propriety to reveal the raw emotions and needs beneath. Through its frank portrayal of a ménage à trois, the play challenges audience expectations and societal norms, asking whether love can truly be confined to conventional boundaries.

Director(s)

Phil Brown

Cast & Creative

Cast

Renee Asherson

Cast

Phil Brown

Cast

Virginia Maskell

Designer

Stephen Doncaster

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