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1988

The Last Supper

Written by Howard Barker

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Max Stafford-Clark

Co-production with Wrestling School

Dates Performed

Thursday 3rd March 1988
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

A desolate landscape, ravaged by war. The remnants of society gather for one final, fateful meal.

Lvov, a charismatic and enigmatic figure, summons his disciples for what he claims will be their last supper together. As the group assembles, tensions simmer and long-held resentments bubble to the surface. Lvov’s followers – a motley crew of intellectuals, artists, and misfits – grapple with their faith in their leader and their own place in a world torn apart by conflict.

Barker’s play is a searing exploration of power, faith, and the human capacity for both cruelty and devotion. Through a series of surreal vignettes and biting dialogues, he dissects the nature of charismatic leadership and the desperate need for meaning in times of chaos. The play’s non-linear structure and poetic language create a dreamlike atmosphere, blurring the lines between reality and allegory.

The Last Supper is a challenging work that defies easy interpretation. Barker’s trademark ‘Theatre of Catastrophe’ is on full display, forcing audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about desire, violence, and the seductive allure of ideology. 

Director(s)

Kenny Ireland

Cast & Creative

Cast

Jane Bertish

Cast

Jeffrey Chiswick

Cast

Claire Hirsch

Cast

Nicholas Le Prevost

Cast

Sara Mair-Thomas

Cast

Philip Sayer

Designer

Dermot Hayes

Lighting

Andy Phillips

Sound

Matthew Scott

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