Plays That Disturbed Audiences

If you read my blog, you know I like to write about the macabre. While talking to a fellow playwright last week, I said it's important not to be ashamed to embrace this particular genre. After doing a little research, I found other artists who, unashamedly, disturbed their audiences:

"The Playboy of the Western World"-When John Synge's play opened at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland in 1907, audience members stormed the stage screaming, "Kill the author!"

"Dracula"-This version of Bram Stoker's novel opened in London's Mason Opera House in 1927, and it employed a nurse to be on hand with smelling salts for any patrons who felt faint.

"Saved"-At the end of Edward Bond's play, which premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1965, audience members stood and yelled "Revolting" and "Dreadful" before marching out of the theatre.

"The Romans in Britain"-Howard Brenton's controversial play, which premiered in 1980 at The National Theatre in London, landed its director in court for being a pimp, as he had hired actors to reenact a male rape scene.

"Blasted"-When Sarah Kane's play opened at The Royal Court Theatre in 1995, the critics called it a "disgusting feast of filth," as well as "a systematic trawl through the deepest pits of human degradation."

"Dry Land"-Both men and women fainted during a particularly bloody miscarriage scene in Ruby Rae Spiegel's play about abortion, which premiered at Yale University in 2014.

"Titus Andronicus"-Directed by Lucy Bailey and performed at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in 2014, this revival upset audiences by depicting all 14 deaths (with rape and mutilation) on stage.

All information came from the following:
www.mentalfloss.com

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Bradley Nies, Playwright

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