Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
William Gaskill, Lindsay Anderson & Anthony Page
Dates Performed
Tuesday 9th November 1971
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Wednesday 15th December 1971
Globe Theatre
Play Details
Synopsis
A stark, utilitarian changing room in a professional rugby league club, where mud-caked warriors transform into ordinary men.
The play follows the City rugby team before, during, and after a crucial match. We witness the pre-game rituals, nervous energy, and camaraderie of the players as they prepare. During halftime, we see their exhaustion, injuries, and the tactical adjustments made by their coach. After the game, we observe the team’s post-match euphoria, disappointments, and the gradual shedding of their athletic personas.
Storey’s groundbreaking drama offers an unflinching, almost documentary-like glimpse into the world of professional sports. Through its hyper-realistic depiction of locker room life, the play explores themes of masculinity, class, and the tension between individual and collective identity. The changing room becomes a microcosm of working-class life, where moments of crude humor and vulnerability coexist. With its innovative structure and focus on the rituals surrounding the unseen game, The Changing Room challenges traditional notions of dramatic action while offering a profound meditation on the human body, teamwork, and the fleeting nature of athletic glory.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Alun Armstrong
Cast
John Barrett
Cast
Peter Childs
Cast
Warren Clarke
Cast
David Daker
Cast
Paul Dawkins
Cast
Michael Elphick
Cast
Brian Glover
Cast
Matthew Guiness
Cast
David Hill
Cast
Geoffrey Hinsliff
Cast
Edward Judd
Cast
Barry Keegan
Cast
Brian Lawson
Cast
Don McKillop
Cast
Mark McManus
Cast
Frank Mills
Cast
Jim Norton
Cast
Edward Peel
Cast
John Rae
Cast
Peter Schofield
Designer