Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
George Devine
Part Of
Sunday Night Productions Without Décor
Dates Performed
Sunday 6th September 1959
Main House (Downstairs)
Play Details
Synopsis
A bustling restaurant kitchen becomes a microcosm of society’s pressures and human relationships.
Wesker’s groundbreaking play thrusts audiences into the frenetic world of a large commercial kitchen, where the relentless pace of food service mirrors the broader societal rat race. At the heart of the story is Peter, a young cook whose artistic aspirations clash with the grinding realities of his work.
As orders fly and tensions rise, Wesker masterfully orchestrates a symphony of characters, each grappling with their own dreams, frustrations, and interpersonal dynamics. The playwright uses the kitchen setting to explore themes of class struggle, immigrant experiences, and the dehumanising effects of industrialised labour.
Through its innovative structure and visceral portrayal of workplace stress, The Kitchen offers a searing critique of modern capitalism while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. Wesker’s play continues to resonate with audiences, highlighting how the pressures of work can both unite and divide us.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Tommy Eytle
Cast
Martin Boddey
Cast
Jessie Robins
Cast
Jane Merrow
Cast
Ida Goldapple
Cast
Marcos Markou
Cast
Harry Landis
Cast
Andre Bolton
Cast
Rita Tushingham
Cast
Alison Bayley
What our readers say
What is it like reading this play now?
This play is still relevant in the way that it vividly captures the emotional toll of balancing demanding jobs with personal aspirations, mirroring the struggles many face in managing work-life balance and safeguarding mental health. Anyone that has felt the strain of underpaid and undervalued work would be able to relate, unfortunately, it is a tale as old as time
If you like this, you might also like…
The film “Boiling Point” and television series “The Bear” are both work kitchen dramas that have obviously taken inspiration from this play.