Details

Urinating nurses, mechanical dogs, fornicating, headless women, burning books and Adolf Hitler are all part of the bold visceral landscape of Howard Barker's startling new play. Found in the Ground is unique in his recent work: an exhilarating challenge to both language and design but threaded with a cruel black comedy and a host of characters whose human weaknesses, dreams and desires we all too readily recognise. A cast of 13 will create a continuously revolving kaleidoscope of bodies, sounds and gesture based around two strong images; a trio of barking guard dogs and a blazing bonfire. The dogs belong to a dying former Nuremberg judge turned senile delinquent. The bonfire was formerly his priceless antiquarian library. While he rejoices in this wilful act of desecration, his daughter creates a new vocation for herself intended to bring comfort to the terminally ill. The dogs are handled by a war criminal who along with five nurses serve the judge. As the play gradually exposes the judge's highly dubious history, his executed victims appear. His passionate longing to meet the arch criminal who evaded his prosecution, Adolf Hitler, is at last satisfied when Hitler arrives... Howard Barker’s approach with Found in the Ground is unique in his recent work; startling, grotesque, stimulating, an exhilarating challenge to both language and design but threaded with a cruel black comedy and a host of characters whose all too human weaknesses, dreams and desires we all too readily recognise. Found in the Ground is being staged at Riverside Studios as part of The Wrestling School's 21st Anniversary. Running time two and a half hours including one interval. Suitable for ages 14+. Running time: 1hr 45mins

Creatives/Company

Author: Howard Barker
Company: The Wrestling School