Tuesday, 29 March 2011

The Holy Rosenbergs

a new play by Ryan Craig

4 STARS ' Clear, gripping, moving, at times extremely funny, and important.' The Times

4 STARS ‘Laurie Sansom once again shows his mastery of depicting fractured families.’ Guardian

4 STARS 'Bold and intelligent.’ Evening Standard

‘Invigorating… Henry Goodman is perfect.’ Financial Times

As big-hearted patriarch David clings to a deal that could save both his ailing catering firm and his cherished standing in the Edgware Jewish community, his children are at loggerheads.

You must’ve heard him banging on about the long line of Rosenbergs, stretching back to the Bible. He reckons some ancient relative catered the Last Supper.

While eldest son Danny fights for the Israelis in Gaza, his sister investigates war crimes in that same conflict. Their brother drinks and brawls and refuses to join their father’s business. But when tragedy strikes, each family member is forced to confront head-on the clash between individual identity and the demands and expectations of community.

What would make a personality like Danny’s fly Apache helicopter gun-ships over Gaza? Why would he put himself in that position?

Ryan Craig’s new play explores tribal loyalties, the culpability of family and the consequences of standing up for what you believe to be right.

Listen to a podcast interview with author Ryan Craig on The Guardian's Sounds Jewish

Audio-Described performances Friday 13 May at 7.30pm and Saturday 14 May at 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 12.45pm)

Captioned performance Thursday 26 May at 7.30pm

World premiere

Photo © Corbis