Directed by Alison Comley
Design by Ann Stiddard and Colin Williams,
Lighting by Tim Bartlett
Sound by Richard Jeffrey - Gray.
Cast: John De Barham, Dee Sadler, Ryan Stuart, Simon Winkler
IIn 1998, David Carter entered a treatment centre for heroin and crack cocaine addiction after contracting the HIV virus. In 2003, he contracted AIDS and started taking retroviral medication. In 2004, he wrote his first play. In 2005, he wrote Viral Sutra.
VIRUS: Group of submicroscopic entities capable of replication only within the cells of a living organism.
SUTRA: A collection of sayings or stories.
VIRAL SUTRA: The story of an everyday HIV virus struggling for survival, wondering about God, the nature of self, the reason for existence, and the threat posed by readily available condoms.
IIn the strange, otherworldly landscape of Viral Sutra, the complex interaction between a disease and the human body is played out on stage. Set in the body of the playwright with the actors as components of a deadly virus, the play is the story of infection told from the virus’ point of view.
After an acclaimed run in Bristol last year, Viral Sutra plays at the Bristol Old Vic before its London premiere at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre where David Carter is currently a Playwright–in–Residence – as the opening production in a season of new British plays.
Playwright David Carter burst onto the new writing scene when his first three plays were all produced in Bristol in just over twelve months, establishing him as a strong and original new voice for the theatre. Out of Joint’s Max Stafford–Clark workshopped Reception at the Soho Theatre where it was given a rehearsed reading in 2005.
PRESS ACCLAIM FROM THE BRISTOL PRODUCTION OF VIRAL SUTRA
““Resounds with brutal truth…Excellent, thought – provoking stuff” - Metro
“Chillingly black comedy…packed with witty writing” – BBC
“Poignant…Edgy, wacky and brutally honest black comedy…visceral and intelligent…A brave, madcap romp through a mine-field.” –Venue Magazine
“Exceptional…sizzling with vigour and talent…charged with intensity” - Entwine Magazine
PERFORMANCES
Bristol Old Vic (0117 987 7877 or book online at www.bristol-old-vic.co.uk)
Tuesday, 25 – Saturday 29 July, Evenings 7.30 p.m.
Saturday matinee at 2.00 p.m.
Tickets £10, £7 concessions. PRESS NIGHT 26th July
Finborough Theatre (0870 4000 838 or book online at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk)
Tuesday, 15 August – Saturday, 2 September,
Evenings 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees at 3.30pm.
Tickets £12, £9 concessions. Tuesday Evenings £8 all seats. Saturday evenings £12 all seats.
Previews (15 and 16 August) £8 all seats. PRESS NIGHT 17th August
Performance length approximately 55 minutes
For Press Tickets more information, interviews, black-and-white and colour images, contact Steve Hennessy on 0117 9832790 or 07790 980688 or steve.hy@blueyonder.co.uk
or Neil McPherson on e-mail admin@finboroughtheatre.co.uk or 07977 173135
Read more at www.viralsutra.com