Contractions

Synopsis

Emma's been seeing Darren. She thinks she's in love. Her boss thinks she's in breach of contract. The situation needs to be resolved. An ink-black comedy about work and play which invites the audience to a meeting at the centre of the Royal Court building.

Latest User Review

David Baxter - 12 June 2008:

I've spent far too much time in boring meetings and pointless appraisals and once had to fire someone for "improper conduct" so Contractions was a bit of a busman's holiday, especially after seeing Lifecoach earlier. Set in an 'office' upstairs at the Royal Court Mike Bartlett's tells his story through a series of meetings between Emma, a young sales executive, and her manager. Things become sinister as the manager probes for details of Emma's growing relationship with a male colleague. Just as I was begining to calculate how many employment laws were being broken events spiral into an Orwellian nightmare of surveillance, emotional blackmail and mind control. As things became ever more detatched from reality I began to find it slightly irritating but the two performances are astonishing. Julia Davis is chilling as the nameless manager, completely calm, rational and unemotional as her demands become more appalling. Anna Madeley has more to work with and is astonishing as her reactions range from denial, disbelief, grudging acceptance, grief, rage and final brainwashed compliance. I have long thought that Anna Madeley is one of our finest young actresses. It is great to see her back in the theatre after a gap featuring a range of screen work and a genuine privelege to see her working at such close proximity....

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