Information
Hangmen
by Martin McDonagh
An Australian premiere
“The electric bloody chair! I’m told when that goes wrong they come out sizzling like a bloody steak.”
It’s 1965, and capital punishment has just been abolished in the UK.
In a dingy, old-school pub in Oldham, the landlord, Harry, who until recently was known as ‘the second-best hangman in Britain’, holds court.
Surrounded by a motley crew of sycophants and hangers-on, he relishes the celebrity his profession has brought him.
His wife works behind the bar; neither seems to notice that their anxious, awkward teenage daughter is ripe for exploitation.
The arrival of a mysterious stranger from ‘the South’ turns the atmosphere toxic with suspicion, and when Harry’s arch-rival turns up, the clash of egos is both brutal and desperately sad.
This brilliantly plotted and wildly off-beat play (from the award-winning writer of 'In Bruges', 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri', 'The Banshees of Inisherin' and 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane') is a stinging condemnation of state-sanctioned murder delivered with furious, macabre humour.
Winner: 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Play
“Tremendous: a departure, and a deepening of McDonagh’s talents.” The Guardian
Venue
New Theatre @ 542 King Street, Newtown
Price
From $20
Bookings
Through ticketsearch website
