Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
George Devine
Dates Performed
Tuesday 27th June 1961
Main House (Downstairs)
Monday 21st August 1961
Main House (Downstairs)
Monday 25th September 1961
Main House (Downstairs)
Play Details
Synopsis
A large, busy kitchen of a large restaurant
Peter, a young and talented but emotionally volatile cook, struggles with his personal dreams and the harsh realities of his work environment. The play unfolds through the hectic routine of the kitchen, vividly portraying the chaos, camaraderie, and conflicts among the staff.
The Kitchen expertly explores the human condition under stress, the clash between personal aspirations and professional demands, and the impact of a high-pressure work environment on personal relationships and mental health.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Dmitri Anderas
Cast
Tarn Basset
Cast
Mai Bacon
Cast
Alison Baylely
Cast
Steven Berkoff
Cast
Jeremy Brett
Cast
Shirley Cameron
Cast
Sandra Caron
Cast
Gladys Dawson
Cast
Tommy Etyle
Cast
Ida Goldapple
Cast
Reginald Green
Cast
Harry Landis
Cast
Anderas Lysandrou
Cast
Anderas Markos
Cast
Marcous Markou
Cast
Jane Morrow
Cast
Patrick O'Conell
Cast
Wolf Parr
Cast
Ken Parry
Cast
Charlotte Selwyn
Cast
Martin Sterndale
Cast
Rita Tushingham
Cast
Jeanne Watts
Cast
Arnold Yarrow
Designer
Jocelyn Herbert
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.
