Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Max Stafford-Clark
Co-production with Wrestling School
Dates Performed
Thursday 3rd March 1988
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Form
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.
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