Squirrels/The After-Dinner Joke, Orange Tree Theatre

In this exciting theatrical double bill, the Orange Tree Theatre is celebrating two of the most exciting and influential modern playwrights.

First, David Mamet’s Squirrels explores the essence of creativity as two writers’ attempts to write about a man being bitten by a squirrel are interrupted by the cleaning lady – who offers surprising literary inspiration of her own. Having won a Pulitzer and been nominated for an Olivier and an Oscar, Mamet, whose acclaimed works include Glengarry Glen Ross and Speed-the-Plow, is renowned for a sharp, cynical style of dialogue (dubbed “Mamet Speak”). This distinctive style makes for a wryly funny play, which holds a magnifying glass up to the preconceptions of creativity. 

Next up is a rare staging of Caryl Churchill’s fast-paced political satire, The After Dinner Joke, which was originally written for the BBC. As idealistic Selby discovers that charity is always at the mercy of politics and big business, the scenes shift rapidly and the ensemble cast of five turn plays over 40 characters. The revelation of political undercurrents and the futility of doing good are typical of Churchill’s style. The eminent playwright, whose plays include Top Girls and Cloud Nine, is known for a biting examination of feminism and powerlessness through non-naturalistic stage techniques (this play is a whirlwind of 66 intense episodic scenes).

As part of the Orange Tree’s Trainee Director’s Scheme, this double-whammy of drama offers the rare chance to see the next big names in directing turning their hand to the work of two of the world's most established and impressive playwrights.