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1958

The Sport of My Mad Mother

Written by Ann Jellicoe

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
George Devine

Dates Performed

Tuesday 25th February 1958
Main House (Downstairs)

Play Details

Synopsis

The streets of 1950s London become a volatile playground for a group of disaffected youth searching for identity and purpose.

Greta, a fierce and enigmatic young woman, emerges as a charismatic leader among a gang of teenagers in post-war London. Her unpredictable and often violent behaviour both frightens and fascinates the other characters, including the naive Patty, the American outsider Dean, and the volatile Fax and Cone.

Jellicoe crafts a provocative exploration of youth culture and social rebellion in post-war Britain. Through a series of fragmented, almost ritualistic encounters, the play delves into themes of violence, sexuality, and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of clear values or direction. As Greta’s influence over the group grows, the boundaries between play and reality, love and hate, become increasingly blurred.

The play’s experimental structure and use of invented slang challenge conventional theatrical norms, posing an unsettling question: In a society where traditional structures have broken down, can the raw energy of youth create a new order, or will it simply lead to chaos and self-destruction?

Director(s)

Ann Jellicoe, George Devine

Content includes

Gun, birth, violence, description of violence, description of suicide, strong language, misogyny

Cast & Creative

Cast

Paul Bailey

Cast

Sheila Ballantine

Cast

Wendy Craig

Cast

Avril Elgar

Cast

Philip Locke

Cast

Jerry Stovin

Cast

Anthony Valentine

Designer

Jocelyn Herbert

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