Production History of
PALACE OF THE END
PALACE OF THE END is a compilation of three
separate monologues -- "My Pyramids" based on the
media circus surrounding American Abu Ghraib soldier Lynndie England, "Harrowdown
Hill" based on the British weapons inspector and microbiologist
Dr. David Kelly, and "Instruments of Yearning" based
Iraqi Communist Party activist Nehrjas Al Saffarh.
"My Pyramids" was the first
of the trilogy to be written. It was originally produced by Volcano
Theatre for The Wrecking Ball in 2004 and at the Traverse Theatre during the
2005 Edinburgh Festival.
The Epic Theatre of New York City then commissioned PALACE
OF THE END which culminated in a workshop reading in April 2006.
Teatro Limonaia in Florence, Italy, produced a staged reading of both "My
Pyramids" and "Instruments of Yearning"
in October of 2006.
Los Angeles' 49th Parallel Theatre produced the
world-debut of PALACE OF THE END in June of 2007 in association with
the Open At The Top at The NOHO
Arts Center in North Hollywood, California.
The play then debuted in Toronto at the Canadian
Stage Company in February of 2008 at the Company's Berkeley Theatre (pictured
right).
In March of 2008, Judith Thompson was awarded the Susan
Smith Blackburn Prize -- a prize given annually to recognize women
from around the world who have written works of outstanding quality for the
English-speaking theatre -- in a ceremony at Houston's Alley Theatre in
recognition of her work on PALACE OF THE END.
At last the play came full circle to make its New
York City debut at The Epic Theatre in June of 2008 where it enjoyed awed and
enthusiastic reviews ("Three pitch-perfect performers deliver three
scalding monologues" -- New York Times). The play is slated to
be performed next at Calgary's Downstage Theatre early next year.
Subversive Theatre is proud to make Buffalo the
fourth city to debut this incredibly timely and hard-hitting work.
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