Synopsis

Various domestic settings across London, late 20th century. Global events loom over seemingly trivial personal interactions.

Caryl Churchill’s experimental play presents a series of disconnected vignettes exploring the gap between personal lives and world events. Each scene is titled after a major political or social issue, but the dialogue that follows focuses on mundane, often tense interactions between individuals.

The play is a darkly comedic exploration of cognitive dissonance and the struggle to engage with global issues amidst the pressures of daily life. Churchill’s trademark sparse dialogue and non-linear structure create a sense of unease, highlighting the disconnection between personal and political spheres.

Through these juxtapositions, Churchill interrogates how we process (or fail to process) major world events, and the ways in which personal dramas can overshadow larger societal concerns. The play’s structure itself becomes a commentary on media saturation and our ability to compartmentalize information.