Following last night’s press night at the Young Vic, we looked at The Nest in numbers…
1: The number of Mercury, Brit and Grammy Award winners involved in the show.
The music to the Nest is composed by musician, songwriter and poet PJ Harvey. PJ Harvey has previously collaborated with the show’s director, Ian Rickson, on productions of Hedda Gabler and Hamlet. Her music sets the tone for the whole show, managing to be at once hopeful and yet full of despair.
PJ Harvey
100: The length of the show in minutes.
This show is a tight 1 hour 40 minutes. Although there brief interludes, filled with the beautiful and ominous music of PJ Harvey, there’s no interval, and quite rightly so – the middle section is so intense it’s hard to look away from, let alone leave the auditorium.
Laurence Kinlan in The Nest (Photo: David Sandison)
2: Members of the cast.
Caoilfhionn Dunne and Laurence Kinlan play Martha and Kurt respectively, two parents-to-be who want the best for their baby. They’re hard grafting, but raising a baby is expensive. Kurt is offered easy money from his boss for a shadowy side job, whose tragic impact unfolds throughout the play.
Caoilfhionn and Laurence excel in the roles. You’ll weep with Martha, be uncomfortable with yourself for finding Kurt’s bungled suicide attempts funny, and be convinced that you can see a new-born baby on stage, although the couple holds only air.
Caoilfhionn Dunne and Laurence Kinlan in The Nest (Photo: David Sandison)
3: Number of Olivier Awards nominations to Conor McPherson’s name.
The Nest is a new translation from the original German play by Franz Xaver Kroetz. Conor’s work has been nominated for 3 Best Play Olivier Awards, with The Weir picking up the accolade in 1999. His writing is dark and witty, and certainly one of the things to look out for in this production.
Caoilfhionn Dunne and Laurence Kinlan in The Nest (Photo: David Sandison)
Intrigued by The Nest? Head to the Young Vic website to find out more.