A brilliant writer of immense imagination with an acute observation of people's foibles
Independent
[A] dark, beautiful, intricately layered work<i></i>
Lyn Gardner on Country Music, The Guardian
Simon Stephens's marvellous and moving new play lasts for little more than an hour but feels like an epic.
Charles Spencer on 'Country Music', The Daily Telegraph
A shocking and savage play … all this is no joy to watch … but … utterly compelling … Morning shows us the world as it is, not how we fondly imagine it to be.
- Lyn Gardner, Guardian
Its power comes from its absolute authenticity … atmospheric and grimly compelling
- Alice Jones, Independent
Theatrically daring and uncompromising
- Sarah Hemming, Financial Times
'I missed first time. I could feel his skull caving in. It was like a shell.'
Morning - a play for young people - is the latest offering from acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens, written after a workshop involving actors from the Young Company at the Lyric, Hammersmith and the Theater, Basel, Switzerland.
It's the end of summer in a small, claustrophobic town and two friends are about to go their separate ways: one to university; the other will be staying local. But no matter what separates them, they will always share one moment: a moment that changed them forever.
This dark coming-of-age play, to be performed by the Lyric Young Company, is a disturbing look at the cruel acts we are capable of committing; our society's numbness to physical pain; and the consequences of our actions.
This programme text will coincide with the Lyric's production of the play at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh as part of the Festival (2 - 22nd September) followed by a brief run at the Lyric Hammersmith, London in September.