Writer Lucy Prebble Talks Broadway-bound ENRON

The Times Online profiles writer Lucy Prebble whose play 'Enron' has achieved critical acclaim and is now Broadway-bound. 'Enron' had its premiere in Chichester, has since transferred to the West End's Noel Coward Theatre, and is now up on the marquee awaiting the start of its Broadway previews slated for April 2010 - and all within the span of one year.

In the article, Prebble reflects on her amazing success and how, ironically, it came as a result of the mortgage crisis which has sent the world of finance spinning. "No question. I have no illusions about the fact that if it hadn't happened, the play would be seen as less relevant, and maybe fewer people would have had the urge to see it. I don't feel particularly good about that, because obviously the financial downturn has been ruinous for millions of people. But I and certain lawyers have probably done pretty well out of it."

Prebble talks about the challenge of marrying the dry world of finance with theatre, saying she was afraid of the topic being too dry. 'Enron' was commissioned by the Headlong Theatre and they advised Prebble to dive into the details. "The second draft had every credit-default swap described. But what was interesting was that, because I'd not been afraid to do that, there was some good metaphorical stuff". Prebble wrote 12 drafts in three years. "On my computer, whenever you open up the folder of documents, they're just ‘Enron 1', ‘Enron 1.2'. It just goes on and on and on. It's, like, 90% of the memory on my hard disk," she says.

To read the rest of the story in the Times Online, click here.

Lucy Prebble's new play ENRON will play The Broadhurst Theatre, beginning previews on Broadway on April 8, 2010 and opening on April 27, 2010.  

Inspired by the real-life financial scandal of 2001, ENRON, which was commissioned by Headlong Theatre, premiered this past summer at the Minerva Theatre Chichester, and then moved for a six-week run at The Royal Court Theatre where it played through November 8, 2009. The play recently transferred to West End's Noel Coward Theatre this month.

Inspired by real-life events and using music, dance and video, ENRON explores one of the most infamous scandals in financial history, reviewing the tumultuous 1990s and casting a new light on the financial turmoil in which the world currently finds itself.

Directed by Rupert Goold, the production features scenic and costume design byAnthony Ward, lighting by Mark Henderson, music and sound by Adam Cork, video and projection by Jon Driscoll and movement by Scott Ambler. The production will star Norbert Leo Butz in the role of Jeffrey Skilling.

Headlong Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and Royal Court Theatre production of ENRON will be produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Matthew Byam Shaw, ACT Productions, Caro Newling for Neal St. Productions and The Shubert Organization.

Lucy Prebble won the George Devine Award and the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright for her debut play The Sugar Syndrome at The Royal Court Theatre. On television, her work includes creating the series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. ENRON is her second play.
Rupert Goold's previous productions include Minerva Theatre Chichester's staging of Macbeth with Patrick Stewart (that transferred to the West End and Broadway) and Six Characters in Search of an Author. Additional credits include Time and the Conways at the National Theatre, Pete Postlethwaite in King Lear, and West End productions of Pinter's No Man's Land and Oliver! (currently at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane). He most recently directed Turandot for English National Opera which opened at the London Coliseum in October.