Theatre Uncut Announces Rights-Free Plays by Rachel Chavkin, Neil LaBute and More, Nov 6-Dec 6

A selection of the most powerful Theatre Uncut plays of the first four years to be made available rights free from 6th November to 6th December 2015.

Theatre Uncut began as a response to cuts to public services announced in the 2010 spending review. In February 2011 eight short plays responding to the cuts were made available for anyone anywhere to perform in their communities and thousands around the country did. Since then, this mass participation theatrical event has happened for one month in every year, each time responding to a global political issue.

To date over 6,000 people in 26 countries have taken and writers including Mark Ravenhill, David Greig, Clara Brennan and Anders Lustgarten have contributed short plays. These have been performed by community groups, in workplaces, universities and among friends as well as being professionally staged all over the UK by Theatre Uncut.

This year, with a newly elected Conservative government in office, a fresh spending review approaching in November and all signs pointing to further cuts, Theatre Uncut is taking stock and preparing for the fightback with a major new project to be announced in the New Year.

For this year's mass participation event, Theatre Uncut has secured the rights to release fifteen of the most powerful short plays from the first four years of Theatre Uncut to share with anyone, anywhere who would like to perform them. These plays represent a cross section of writers who have responded to each year's topic throughout Theatre Uncut's first four years. Writers include some of the UK's leading playwrights alongside writers from Egypt, Greece & the USA.

The plays will be available to download and perform at www.theatreuncut.com from 6th November date to 6th December.

Speaking about the release of plays, Theatre Uncut Artistic Director Hannah Price said, "So much has changed over the last 4 years, and yet so much has stayed the same. 4 years after Theatre Uncut began, we are facing yet another round of cuts, and asking ourselves fundamental questions about how our society works. Before we announce our next big project, and as we negotiate the first full year of the Conservative government, we felt it was time to look back at all the incredible writing we've been lucky enough to work with, and take stock of the crucial issues we have been exploring. Here we present some of our best loved and most downloaded pieces for anyone to download and perform anywhere."

The plays are:

Things That Make No Sense by Dennis Kelly (2011, The Cuts)

A dark world where we are 'all in this together' might just be a little too recognisable.

Hi Vis by Clara Brennan

A mother orphans her daughter in the most loving way. Hilarious, caring and heartbreaking, Hi Vis asks us what really makes life and love.

Fragile by David Greig

Audience participation is thrown on its head as the effects of cuts on provision for mental health care is explored in this rousing short.

A Bigger Banner by Mark Ravenhill

The beginning of the welfare state or the end of it? Hopes and dreams of different generations are forced into stark relief.

Blondie by Hayley Squires (International Perspectives 2012)

A female dictator in the UK is brought to trial for her crimes against humanity.

The Price by Lena Kitsopoulou (International Perspectives 2012 - Greece)

A surreal austerity comedy set in a supermarket : as we communally tighten our belts, what must we cut back on ?

In The Beginning by Neil LaBute (International Perspectives 2012 - USA)

A father and child argue from completely opposing views. Who is leeching from whom? Who is hurting who? Can it be true that what remains of us is love?

Capitalism is Crisis by Tim Price (Rise of the Right, 2013)

A believer and a non-believer swap positions at Occupy Camp in the shadow of St Pauls.

Church Forced to Put Up Gates by Mark Thomas (Rise of the Right, 2013)

A hilarious, absurdist piece with too much truth. How much power lies with our media?

Close by Kieran Hurley (Scottish Independence Plays, 2013)

The political and personal collide and force us to question 'what next?' as we fight for what we believe in.

The Recipe by Rachel Chavkin (Rise of the Right, 2013)

A provocation to devise your own piece, from the founder of the world renowned theatre ensemble, The TEAM.

The Most Horrific by Vivienne Franzmann (Knowledge is Power, Knowledge is Change 2014)

A dark, hilarious and hard-hitting look at the media and how we consumer stories.

The Finger of God by Anders Lustgarten (Knowledge is Power, Knowledge is Change 2014)

The lottery takes a dark turn in this dark and hilarious short play that shines a light on how political structures can control us.

Smoke and Mirrors by Stef Smith (Theatre Uncut Istanbul, Politics, Power and Gezi Park, 2014)

Three Turkish women are interviewed and lay their hearts open to us, in this piece that asks us to examine: who writes history?

APATHY by Chris Goode (Election Inspiration, 2015)

A series of beautifully crafted scenarios designed specifically to provoke new work and challenge our view of what politics is and what it can achieve.

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