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 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
Kenneth Adams
Cast
Tarn Bassett
Cast
Anne Bishop
Cast
James Bolam
Cast
John Briggs
Cast
Cecil Brock
Cast
Patsy Byrne
Cast
Anthony Carrick
Cast
James Culliford
Cast
Tenniel Evans
Cast
Peter Gill
Cast
Ida Goldapple
Cast
Alan Howard
Cast
Charles Kay
Cast
Ann King Alfred Lynch
Cast
Gwen Nelson
Cast
Mary Miller
Cast
Sandra Miller
Cast
Patrick O'Connell
Cast
Brenda Peters
Cast
Jack Rodney
Cast
David Ryder
Cast
Christopher Sandford
Cast
Jennifer Wallace
Cast
Jeanne Watts
Designer
Jocelyn Herbert
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.