Review: THE PILLOWMAN, Duke of York’s Theatre
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Besties, The Pillowman is dark, really dark.
We are told stories within stories, mainly about the gruesome murders of children, written by our main protagonist Katurian Katurian Katurian (yes, really), convincingly played by Lily Allen.
Set in an unnamed totalitarian state, Katurian is questioned about the similarities between her short stories and the similarities to child murders happening in the state. If you can stomach that as a premise, you will be rewarded with some really smart, thought provoking, funny writing.
A complex play; it’s smart, twisty and peppered with the aforementioned short stories which are incredibly dark and uncomfortable to watch. This is mainly because they highlight that atrocities similar to these happen in real life, and remind us that trauma exists around us in various forms.
A play written to challenge our ideals and pre-conceptions, written 20 years ago by Martin McDonagh, The Pillowman explores freedom of expression, nature v nurture, the impact of childhood trauma, and an exploration of life’s ‘what ifs’. There is a sharp focus on the meaning of stories and the impact that art has on us all, as we are taken through the investigation into the copycat killer.
Steve Pemberton is the star of the show here as Tupolski. He is the perfect casting for this role, effortlessly delivering the funniest lines of the play, whilst steadfastly making us feel uneasy with his relentless inappropriate and repetitive method of questioning, as Katurian is interrogated.
His greasy sidekick Ariel (Paul Kaye) is the bad cop to Tupolski’s good cop, torturing Katorian, with fists and electrodes in a sinister, yet comic manner, with his humanity unfolding throughout. They make a solid double act, taunting and mocking Katurian whilst she attempts to understand the reasons for her arrest.
Michal, Katurian’s younger brother is brilliantly creepy, with Matthew Tennyson bringing an innocence and childlike humour to his character. His interactions with Katurian are some of the most memorable of the show.
Lily Allen brings a convincing coolness to Katurian, previously a male role, deftly delivering her lines. She’s particularly strong when narrating the disturbing stories, switching from horror to humour and back again many times.
Anna Fleischle’s fantastic production design transports us to the scene of the crime, enhancing the stories we are told. The hero here though is the book, the entwining and unfolding of the stories alongside the interrogation is masterfully done. The titular short story - The Pillowman, told within the play, is by far the most disturbing, and one which will stay with you for some time. Chilling to the bone.
Enjoyable is clearly the wrong word to use for a terrifying play about child murder. This is not an easy play to watch but there is much to think about here in this bold piece. We are invited to challenge our opinions on imagination, humanity, trauma, and story making itself.
A wonderfully shocking experience, packed with food for thought, and not for the fainthearted.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Cara Brazier
The Pillowman plays at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre until 2 September, with tickets available here.