The Rape of Europe

Synopsis

A dingy railway station in Europe, where the lines between reality and nightmare blur

Gengis, a British shopkeeper with delusions of grandeur, finds himself trapped in a Kafkaesque interrogation by Austrian border guards. As he stumbles through a surreal European landscape, Gengis grapples with the complexities of EU politics, democracy, and his own place in a rapidly changing world. Accompanied by his peculiar Uncle and Aunty, Gengis encounters a cast of eccentric characters, including Charlie, a corrupt MEP, and Lolo, a politically savvy Swedish prostitute.

Gregory Motton’s The Rape of Europe is a darkly comic, absurdist exploration of European identity and the erosion of democracy. Through a series of increasingly bizarre vignettes, Motton skewers EU bureaucracy, political corruption, and the complacency of the average citizen. The play’s non-linear structure and blend of realism with fantasy create a disorienting effect, mirroring Gengis’ confusion and growing disillusionment. Sharp dialogue and biting satire are punctuated by moments of slapstick humour and surreal imagery, culminating in a fever dream showdown with the personification of EU power.