Double Feature: Two
Published on 21. July 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-1-84842-220-9 (ISBN)
Description
Double Feature brings together - in two volumes of paired short plays - four of the most exciting new voices in UK theatre, in their first commissions for the National Theatre.
This volume, Double Feature: Two, contains:
Nightwatchman by Prasanna Puwanarajah
A British Sri Lankan cricketer prepares for the innings of her life for England against Sri Lanka at Lord's. Facing a relentless bowling machine she challenges our preconceptions of politics, sport and national pride as harshly as she challenges her own.
There is a War by Tom Basden
A miniature epic that explores the mad savagery of war with biting black comedy, and takes us into the dark heart of a strange and surreal conflict.
As soldiers, priests and scavengers roam a battle-scorched landscape, a young medical officer finds herself abandoned and useless, unable to locate the hospital or even the war she was promised.
The plays premiered in a specially converted space at the National Theatre in July 2011. They were performed alongside Edgar & Annabel by Sam Holcroft and The Swan by DC Moore, published in the companion volume Double Feature: One.
This volume, Double Feature: Two, contains:
Nightwatchman by Prasanna Puwanarajah
A British Sri Lankan cricketer prepares for the innings of her life for England against Sri Lanka at Lord's. Facing a relentless bowling machine she challenges our preconceptions of politics, sport and national pride as harshly as she challenges her own.
There is a War by Tom Basden
A miniature epic that explores the mad savagery of war with biting black comedy, and takes us into the dark heart of a strange and surreal conflict.
As soldiers, priests and scavengers roam a battle-scorched landscape, a young medical officer finds herself abandoned and useless, unable to locate the hospital or even the war she was promised.
The plays premiered in a specially converted space at the National Theatre in July 2011. They were performed alongside Edgar & Annabel by Sam Holcroft and The Swan by DC Moore, published in the companion volume Double Feature: One.
Reviews / Votes
'Sharp, funny and fizzing with invention' * The Times * 'Marvellously incisive' * Independent * 'A sharp satire with an irresistibly silly strain' * Financial Times *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
143 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84842-220-9 (9781848422209)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Prasanna Puwanarajah | Tom Basden
Double Feature: Two
E-Book
11/2014
Nick Hern Books
€13.99
Available for download
Complete work / Part of the work
Persons
Prasanna Puwanarajah is a writer and director for film, television and theatre.
He studied medicine at New College, Oxford, working extensively in the National Health Service and for Medicins du Monde before moving into writing and directing.
His debut play Nightwatchman premiered at the National Theatre, London, in 2011, where he has also worked as an actor.
He was appointed Artistic Associate at the Donmar Warehouse in 2020.
Tom Basden's plays include: an adaptation of Dario Fo and Franca Rame's Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, 2022; Lyric Hammersmith and West End, 2023); The Crocodile, an adaptation of a short story by Dostoyevksy (Manchester International Festival, 2015); Holes (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2013; Arcola Theatre, London, 2014); There is a War (as part of the Double Feature season in the Paintframe at the National Theatre); Joseph K, an adaptation of Kafka's The Trial (Gate Theatre, London) and Party (Fringe First Winner; Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Sydney International Festival/Arts Theatre, London).
He has written for some of Britain's best TV comedies, including Peep Show, Fresh Meat, The Wrong Mans and Plebs, which won Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2013 and Best Scripted Comedy at the RTS Awards 2014. He is also a member of sketch group Cowards, who wrote and performed their own TV series on BBC4.
For Radio 4 he has made two series of Cowards and three series of his sitcom Party, based on his 2009 play.
He has been nominated for a BAFTA three times, and has won a Fringe First and an Edinburgh Comedy Award.
He studied medicine at New College, Oxford, working extensively in the National Health Service and for Medicins du Monde before moving into writing and directing.
His debut play Nightwatchman premiered at the National Theatre, London, in 2011, where he has also worked as an actor.
He was appointed Artistic Associate at the Donmar Warehouse in 2020.
Tom Basden's plays include: an adaptation of Dario Fo and Franca Rame's Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, 2022; Lyric Hammersmith and West End, 2023); The Crocodile, an adaptation of a short story by Dostoyevksy (Manchester International Festival, 2015); Holes (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2013; Arcola Theatre, London, 2014); There is a War (as part of the Double Feature season in the Paintframe at the National Theatre); Joseph K, an adaptation of Kafka's The Trial (Gate Theatre, London) and Party (Fringe First Winner; Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Sydney International Festival/Arts Theatre, London).
He has written for some of Britain's best TV comedies, including Peep Show, Fresh Meat, The Wrong Mans and Plebs, which won Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2013 and Best Scripted Comedy at the RTS Awards 2014. He is also a member of sketch group Cowards, who wrote and performed their own TV series on BBC4.
For Radio 4 he has made two series of Cowards and three series of his sitcom Party, based on his 2009 play.
He has been nominated for a BAFTA three times, and has won a Fringe First and an Edinburgh Comedy Award.