A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Tickets

Originally written by Peter Nichols in 1967, the play tackles very serious themes, albeit in a comical manner. The effects of raising a handicapped child on the parents’ marriage are clearly outlined. Most of Nichols’ plays are autobiographical in nature. A Day in the Death of Joe Egg is based on his own experiences of raising a child with special needs. His other popular plays, Privates on Parade is based on his military days, while The National Health draws on his experiences during a hospital admittance. A star-studded cast led by Toby Stephens, Claire Skinner, and Patricia Hodge is all set to take the stage at West End. Stephens is a well-established actor, having played numerous leading roles in Royal Shakespeare Company productions. Skinner is an Olivier and BAFTA-nominated actress whose credits include The Glass Menagerie, Nightfall, and the BBC TV series Outnumbered. Hodge is a BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actress, who is most famous for her role in the wildly popular series Miranda. Peter Nichols’ play was initially a shocker during its release in 1967. Treating the subject of the infirmary as a comedy was unheard of in those days. Nichols’ ability to bring the characters to life, especially when the main character confesses his deepest and darkest thoughts to the audience as if they are his confidante, is spectacularly done.

The Story

Bri and Sheila are a married couple who have a 10-year old daughter, Josephine. Josephine, suffers from cerebral palsy, as a result of which she is paralyzed and is unable to communicate. She requires round-the-clock care, and this demand is putting a great deal of stress on Bri and Sheila’s marriage. Sheila finds an outlet for her difficulties through theatre and dramatics. She attempts to give Josephine as good a life as she can. Bri, on the other hand, finds it more difficult to keep up with the struggle and begins to entertain dark thoughts. He relives all their interactions with doctors and vicars in the form of dark humour. Soon, however, he realizes that humour is not going to help solve their problems and he is confronted with the harsh reality.

Good For

Fans of Peter Nichols | Lovers of Dark Humor