Cannibals

Synopsis

Lizaveta lives on a farm, in a village, on the fringe of Europe. When the sweeping forces of war and progress pass through, she must run for her life. Eventually she finds shelter on an old woman's farm and tries to piece her life back together. But her past catches up with her and she must keep moving. Her journey through a land of mud and blood, icon painters and holy fools, takes her across continents to the other side of the world. Through Lizaveta's eyes familiar places and notions of love, family and identity become distant and strange.

Our Review:

Glenn Meads - 9 April 2013

Cannibals is a new play by a young Manchester writer - Rory Mullarkey. Instead of writing about the Manchester music scene, the IRA bomb or the recent riots - he pulls a rug from underneath the audience with this ambitious black comedy/thriller. Inspired by a trip to Moscow, the play surprises the audience at every turn.

To tell you much about the piece will ruin it, but all you need to know is that the title is a small part of the piece. It mainly depicts the effects of war. But instead of being seen through the eyes of thousands - we follow identifiable, ordinary folk whose lives are changed by the horror and the restrictions that they now face.

This sounds grim but due to Mullarkey's cracking dialogue and Michael Longhurst's dynamic direction, Cannibals is as original as it is entertaining. It's a visceral piece and ideally suited to the Royal Exchange's vast space. Longhurst doesn't waste an inch of the round and it's incredibly immersive theatre...

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Latest User Review

L.Walsh - 24 April 2013:

Excellent play as it challenges the audience. I loved it. ...

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