The Happy Haven

Synopsis

A sterile, institutional setting masquerading as a haven for the elderly, where the boundaries between care and control blur.

Doctor Copperthwaite, the ambitious superintendent of the Happy Haven retirement home, believes he has discovered the Elixir of Youth. As he prepares to test his formula on his unsuspecting elderly patients, a group of five residents—Mrs Phineus, Mr Golightly, Mrs Letouzel, Mr Hardrader, and Mr Crape—uncover his plans and decide to take matters into their own hands.

John Arden’s The Happy Haven is a darkly comic and satirical exploration of ageing, power, and the human desire for youth and vitality. Through a series of absurdist vignettes, the play delves into the complex relationships between the elderly residents, their caretakers, and society at large. Arden’s script blends elements of farce, social commentary, and the theatre of the absurd to create a biting critique of institutional care and the dehumanisation of the elderly. As the residents plot to turn the tables on Dr Copperthwaite, the play raises provocative questions about autonomy, dignity, and the value placed on youth in modern society. With its unconventional structure and tragicomic tone, The Happy Haven challenges audiences to confront their own attitudes towards ageing and the treatment of older people.