Singular Female Voices (Nick Hern Books) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1854599178 ISBN 13: 9781854599179

Publisher: Nick Hern Books, 2006

Synopsis

Three plays for one actress all featuring mothers on the edge. Jordan tells the true story of Shirley Jones, who kills her baby boy rather than have him taken away by his abusive father. The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret alternates stories of two women, both of whom lose their sons, one murdered, the other a runaway. Also includes Unsuspecting Susan.

About this title

About the Author:

Moira Buffini & Anna Reynolds JORDAN: premiere 1992: Writers Guild Award for Best Fringe Play. Revived 1994. Edinburgh Fest 1998. The true story of Shirley Jones, who kills her baby boy, Jordan, rather than have him taken away by his abusive father. Reynolds met Jones when they were both in prison. On her release she co-wrote the play with Moira Buffini, who went on to write Dinner (2002), a National Theatre and West End hit starring Harriet Walter. Catherine Johnson THE LOST ART OF KEEPING A SECRET The alternating stories of two women (both played by the same actress), both of whom 'lose' their sons, one is apparently murdered, the other is a runaway. This vivid play, with its sharp insights into lives lived near the top and the bottom of the heap, has yet to be performed. Catherine Johnson wrote the script for Mamma Mia!, and, before that, three plays for the Bush Theatre, London, between 1989 and 1998 Stewart Permutt UNSUSPECTING SUSAN: premiere: Kings Head Theatre, London, 2003; Theater E59E, New York, 2005 Susan's life revolves around her dogs, am-dram, bell-ringing and village gossip. But alarm bells ring (though not for unsuspecting Susan) when, amongst the tittle-tattle, we hear about a 33-year-old son who, after years of mental illness, shares a flat with Jamil and has converted to Islam... The premiere productions in London and New York starred Celia Imrie in a 'consummately effortless performance that might suggest that no acting is going on at all... The play is a soft-spoken but tough piece for a world where everyone is suspect' (Sunday Times) 'This is a play that defines as well as any I have seen our post-9/11 times' Jewish Chronicle. Stewart Permutt has been writing and acting on the Fringe since 1984.

About this edition

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1854599178
• ISBN 13: 9781854599179
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96