A Conversation at the Royal Exchange Theatre until 8th December
In Theatre
Archived: This event was in 2007.
The award-winning drama returns to the Royal Exchange as part of the Out of the Blue - Best of the Studio season.
A Conversation tells the story of two families united by a horrific crime. The Milsoms are grieving for their daughter, who was raped and murdered; the Williams are the family of the murderer. The two families are brought together in a single room in the aftermath of the terrible crime.
David Williamson was inpired to write his harrowing play after the Australian government introduced community conferences where victims of crime, perpetrators and their friends and family are brought together in a structured environment. Exploring what responsibility people have for crimes committed by their family and what hope there is for healing in the face of immeasurable anger, this is a harrowing and often painful play.
A Conversation has earnt Williamson both praise and awards around the world and has been translated into many languages. Speaking about the play, he says, ""When the worst thing you can possibly imagine happening to you has happened, is there any way to begin to pick up the pieces? Can facing the family of someone who has caused you immeasurable harm help the healing process to start? The conference depicted in the play is fictional, but there have been real conferences no less heart wrenching and gruelling. This isn't a play that was easy to write nor will it be easy to watch, but the evidence from the community conferencing process is that human resilience, courage and forgiveness run deeper in the human psyche than many cynics would have us believe."
Starring in this production are Christine Stephen-Daly, Jonathan Hackett and a return to the Royal Exchange for Kellie Bright, who was highly praised for her roles in Mary Barton and Love and Numbers. The production is directed by Jacob Murray (Monster, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom).
A CONVERSATION
Royal Exchange Theatre
14 November - 8 December
£8.50 - £28.00 (conc. available)
Happy Mondays: Tickets £4 for 25s and under
Half-price preview tickets available 14 - 16 November
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