Worlds End
Synopsis
Kat is moving out of the London flat she shares with ex-boyfriend Ben. Helping her are Thea, her best friend, and Josh, the new man in her life. Ben (who’s not even meant to be there) is hurt and angry and still in love with Kat. But is it now too late to tell her… ?
Summary
A contemporary drama exploring love and loss. Set in one room (living room of a North West London flat) the action of the play unfolds in real time. Cast: 2m, 2f.
Background
I first wrote the play in 1998. It was given a rehearsed reading at The National Theatre Studio in June 1999 with Neil Stuke in the lead. It was directed by Sasha Wares. In 2000 the play had a day long workshop at The Bush theatre led by Mike Bradwell. And the play was presented on stage at The Old Vic Theatre by Adam Kenwright in a rehearsed reading with Hugh Wooldridge directing.
Production History
In 2007 Andy Jordan produced the play, with Paul Robinson directing at The Pleasance during the Edinburgh Festival. The cast was Merryn Owen, Fiona Button, Monica Bertei and Jamie Belman. The play transferred to the West End the following spring at the Trafalgar Studios where Charlotte Lucas replaced Fiona Button in a new production directed by Guy Retallack.
Published/Playtext
The play was first published by Oberon Books Ltd in 2006.
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Oberon Books Ltd (7 Nov 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1840027134
ISBN-13: 978-1840027136
Reviews
"An intriguing play with cracking dialogue and cunningly revealed character... confirmed it’s author's growing reputation for chronicling the feel of 21st century life."
Jeremy Kingston
The Times
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"A thrilling hour of drama... It’s tender and vicious, realistic and poetic, very funny and horribly, horribly true… The play ends with two unexpected twists, and quite brilliant twists that had me gasping in admiration... Paul Sellar has turned into a writer we can cherish."
Lloyd Evans
The Spectator
WEST END CHOICE
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"It’s a delight to see so much that’s right packed into such a short playing time. I strongly advise anyone to take out 70 minutes to see this new play... A delight... relationships may not last but this play certainly should."
Fiona Mountford
The Evening Standard
THEATRE CHOICE
“a searing… gut wrenchingly honest drama written with a clear, contemporary pulse of its own.
Dominic Cavendish
The Telegraph
CRITICS CHOICE
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"One of the best new plays of the year”
Philip Fisher
British Theatre Guide
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“Merryn Owen gave as raw and powerful a performance as you’re likely to see”
Duska Radosavljevic
The Stage
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"Paul Sellar’s play is as skilfully spoken and delivered as it has been written. Result: a gripping hour and twenty minutes."
Frigereview.co.uk
“Paul Sellar’s Worlds End at Pleasance Dome follows the breakdown of a relationship and is entirely convincing. It features an outstanding performance from Merryn Owen as the devastated Ben, a blocked writer whose world has collapsed following the loss of beautiful Kat.”
Philip Fisher
Western Mail
"This is a play... that has you siding, back and forth many times, with each of the four characters.”
Richard Flynn
Adelaide Theatre Guide
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“Sellar questions the nature of love and the pain of its demise but thankfully doesn’t fall into cliché. The final scene is particularly resonate and Barnden and Fantasia are fantastic.”
Zoe Lyons
Fringe Benefits
“This is a worthwhile evening of theatre so don’t miss it.”
Barry Lenny
Rip It Up
“This brilliant script strips any social comfort and lays bare the truth of a relationship that initially bloomed and then withered and now leaves both parties to pick up the broken shards of their lives and carry on.”
Stephanie Johnson
Australia Stage Online
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“Worlds End is a beautiful experience despite the painful subject matter. The cast are simply brilliant in their caring, gutsy, poignant charcterisations that speak to all of us and give an enlightened perspective on one of life's unavoidable rites of passage.”
David O'Brien
dB Magazine
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“A worthwhile seventy minute experience of other people’s believable emotions. So much easier than having to cope with one’s own.”
Myk Mykyta
Radio Adelaide
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“A worthwhile seventy minute experience of other people’s believable emotions. So much easier than having to cope with one’s own.”
Peter Burdon