Philip Ridley Books

This volume contains Ridley's first three plays, which heralded the arrival of a unique and edgy voice in the world of contemporary drama. They are seminal works in the development of the "in yer face" theatre that emerged in Britain during the mid-1990s. The three plays here all manifest Ridley's vivid and visionary imagination and the dark beauty of his outlook. They resonate with his trademark themes: East London, storytelling, moments of shocking violence, memories of the past, fantastical monologues, and that strange mix of the barbaric and the beautiful he has made all his own. The Pitchfork Disney was Ridley's first play and is now seen as launching a new generation of playwrights who were unafraid to shock and court controversy. This unsettling, dreamlike piece has surreal undertones and thematically explores fear, dreams and story-telling. The Fastest Clock in the Universe is a multi-award-winning play which caused a sensation when it premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1992. An edgy and provocative drama, it is now regarded as a contemporary classic. Ghost from a Perfect Place is a scorchingly nasty blend of comedy, spectacle and terror where a monster from the past meets the monsters of the present.

This collection brings together Philip Ridley's one-act plays for young people, known as The Storyteller Sequence, ideal for teenagers to either watch or perform. Karamazoo is a fifteen-minute monologue about one of the coolest, most popular kids in the school, whose recent increase in popularity is the direct result of a character make-over following the death of a parent. A witty and moving performance piece for the teenage actor. Fairytaleheart features two fifteen-year-olds, Kirsty and Gideon, who meet for the first time and come to terms with their broken families by sharing their hopes, fears and past experiences - as well as stories - in a derelict community centre. Sparkleshark tells of fourteen-year-old Jake - a victim of bullying and other teenager's mockery - who has to take refuge on the roof of a tower block in order to write his stories. Moonfleece sees Curtis, a young right-wing activist, arrange a meeting in a flat of a derelict tower block where he lived as a child. But his older brother's ghost keeps haunting him. Moonfleece is an intense and thrilling exploration of memory and identity. Brokenville features an unknown disaster, which has left seven characters with little knowledge of who they are or of what has happened. As an old woman and five teenagers begin to act out stories for a mute and frightened child, they begin to discover a little of who they were and what they can be.

Philip Ridley's multi-award-winning play caused a sensation when it premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1992. A provocative and edgy drama, it is now regarded as a contemporary classic. Set in a strange room in East London, party preparations are underway but the presence of a very, very sharp knife does not bode well for an entirely happy birthday.

A doorway to a new future is ready to open. We are the hinge of that moment. We will let the door swing wide. On a beautiful spring evening – when both moons are full – two teenagers vow eternal love. It is a moment that will have cataclysmic consequences. Not just for them, but for the world on which they live. A world where Prom Night is a matter of life or death, where weapons are grown and trained like pets, and where a chosen few are hearing a voice. A voice that speaks of ... Karagula. Philip Ridley's extraordinary, form-shattering Karagula is a play of epic proportions. Written in a fractured timescale, it explores our constant need to find meaning. To believe we're here for a reason. To have faith in something. Faith in ... anything. Karagula received its world premiere on 10 June 2016 at a secret London location in one of the largest productions ever staged in the Off-West End.

'That's the way it works in this family. Believe what you wanna believe. Twist this. Ignore the other. That's how we survive.' Steven has always tried to be a good person. He works hard. He looks after his family. But, suddenly, everyone starts accusing him of things. His wife accuses him of being unfaithful. His mother accuses him of being coercive. And his brother, Barry, accuses him of...what exactly? Barry won't say. Or can't. Or perhaps... Steven hasn't done anything at all. Following its critically acclaimed premiere at Soho Theatre in 2007, Philip Ridley's gripping narrative of memory, manipulation, and power - now regarded as a modern classic - returns in a new production by long-time collaborators, Lidless Theatre. This edition was published alongside the production at the Park Theatre, London, in May 2023.

"100 self-contained original monologues for actors of all ages and genders, written by one of Britain's most celebrated dramatists, Philip Ridley"--

Ridley has a cult status among many young theater goers and a strong cult following.

Dakota Pink embarks on a thrilling quest to uncover the truth about Medusa's baby monster, joined by her best friend Treacle. Their adventure takes them from the familiar White Flats to the mysterious Dog Island and the formidable Fortress, where they will face challenges and discover secrets that could change everything.

The narrative explores the imaginative and vivid experiences of a teenager who perceives the universe within himself, symbolized by the Milky Way in his reflection. The story intertwines the raw power of a motorbike, likened to a wild animal, with the deep emotional resonance of a whale's song, which serves as a poignant remedy for loneliness. Through these unique elements, the book delves into themes of self-discovery, connection with nature, and the search for belonging.

World Premiere: Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol, 27 February - 7 March 2015; Soho Theatre, London, 10 March - 12 April 2014--Additional title page.