Synopsis

Three British bedrooms, late 20th century. The intimacy of private spaces becomes a battleground for deeper human conflicts.

Caryl Churchill’s triptych of nocturnal scenes explores the fraught terrain of modern relationships through three distinct couples. In the first scene, Frank and Margaret engage in a vicious verbal sparring match fueled by suspicion and resentment. The second presents the nearly wordless, yet deeply troubled, interactions between Pete and Dawn. The final scene depicts Margaret (presumably the same from the first scene) with her new partner Pete, as they navigate the complexities of building a life after divorce.

The play is a searing examination of communication breakdown and the struggle for intimacy in contemporary Britain. Through terse dialogue and loaded silences, Churchill explores themes of infidelity, addiction, mental health, and the legacy of past relationships. The bedroom setting becomes both a place of refuge and confrontation, where characters are stripped bare – literally and figuratively.