“Nothing he writes is ever not funny”, Max Stafford-Clark says of Richard Bean in Shakespeare’s Globe’s recent video in which the writer and director talk about the upcoming London premiere of Pitcairn.
The latest offering from the playwright, whose credits include the National Theatre’s smash-hit comedies One Man, Two Guvnors and Great Britain, is a brutal tale exploring the colonisation of the remote island Pitcairn.
It’s hard to see the funny side of an idyllic island descending into a world of ruthless violence – “There will be blood”, cast members Siubhan Harrison and Tom Morley assure us – yet it’s funny… apparently.
If you, like us, are struggling to imagine how, take a look at the video above, which not only gives us an insight into the play’s comic qualities but also tells us more about how the drama fills a gap in history and what lessons can be learned from the infamous mutineers.
If that’s not enough to whet your appetite before the production begins its run at the iconic venue on 22 September, you can check out the cast in rehearsals by clicking on the gallery tab above.