Written by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and adapted by Chris Thomas for the Old Mill Theatre’s short play season, No Exit is the play that coined the phrase “hell is other people”.
It features a depiction of the afterlife where three dead characters are punished by being locked in a room together for eternity.
“No Exit is a play that gets you thinking,” director Maree Grayden said. “It stays with you in the sense that you keep coming back to consider the play’s thematic concerns.
“The famous quote about hell being other people begs the question: who would be in the room with me and why?
“That question inspired me to direct the play – I find it a disturbing yet intriguing thought that my hell would involve torture by self-examination and cross-examination by others.”
Joining
No Exit for the Old Mill Theatre’s season of short plays is Harold Pinter’s
The Dumb Waiter and the world premiere of Noel O’Neill’s
Snow and Ash.
Directed by Valerie Dragojevic, Snow and Ash follows two clowns left behind by a travelling circus who suddenly find themselves in a country with no liberty or freedom of speech.
The Dumb Waiter, directed by Susie Conte, features Gus and Ben in a Birmingham basement, awaiting instructions for their next job. Gus needs matches while Ben has a newspaper – and both men have revolvers.
Snow and Ash and The Dumb Waiter play at 8pm, September 19, 20, October 3, 4 and 5 with a 2pm matinee September 22.
No Exit plays on the same dates except October 4 and 5 when it will be replaced by Jerome McDonough’s Juvie on those two nights. Set in a juvenile detention centre, young suspects come out of their cells to tell why and how they were caught.
Tickets are $25, $20 concession – book on 9367 8719, oldmilltheatre@iinet.net.au or at http://oldmilltheatre.com.au/tickets.
The heritage-listed Old Mill Theatre is on Mends Street, South Perth, opposite the Windsor Hotel and Australia Post.