Flux Theatre Present: Chutney - The macabre and the mundane are twisted to unsettling effect in this dark comedy about a young couple brought together by a murderous instinct for all things small and fluffy.
Written by Reece Connolly | Directed by Georgie Staight
Bunker Theatre 6 Nov – 1 Dec
PRESS NIGHT: Friday 9th November 7.30pm
Offering a dark commentary on attitudes towards relationship taboos and the illicit desires that bond people or break them, this new black comedy is Animals of Farthing Wood meets American Psycho. Claire and Gregg are, on the surface, the archetypal ‘normal’ couple: met at university, adored by each other’s parents, co-owners of a pleasant suburban home and an efficient John Lewis blender. But as fantasy and reality begin to blur it soon becomes apparent that beneath their unassuming exterior they are united by an insatiable and horrific desire: to murder their neighbours’ pets.
Beginning with a humble Jack Russell, and escalating through most of the area’s hedgehog population, the couple unleash ‘Operation: CHUTNEY.’ A self-serving campaign of bloodshed that reveals through sardonic humour the darkest corners of the human psyche and animalistic bloodlust. Addicted to the erotic gratification of this carnal act, Claire and Gregg’s exploits sever expectations of storytelling, offering a cynical commentary on desires that bring us together and break as apart.
Playwright, Reece Connolly said “I wanted to write an anti-love story, an alternative horror rooted in the mundane and the 'millenial'. Something unexpected and subversive that will shock and excite, looking at fears and taboos that can lurk in relationships, family, and class set against the backdrop of a big scary spiky world. Everything that makes me scared and angry has probably found its way into this. It's a story for anyone whose ever feeling caged, unfulfilled, dissatisfied, furious - by the world, by yourself.”
Flux Theatre create socially engaged work that takes risks in form and challenges conventional storytelling, aiming to inspire change, provoke thought and compel audiences. Flux Theatre believe in the practice of collaboration and utilising the imaginations of all involved. They also aim to champion emerging playwrights through their ‘EMERGE’ initiative. Previous work includes Dubailand, which premiered at the Finborough Theatre in 2017 and received high praise from the Guardian, The Telegraph and WhatsOnStage, Roosting, selected to be developed as part of the Park Theatre 'Script Accelerator' programme 2017, White Light, which premiered at the Arcola Theatre in 2017 as part of the new writing festival playWROUGHT, Dinosaur Dreams, which premiered at the Etcetera Theatre in 2016 and The Narcissist, which was scratched at the Hen and Chickens. Flux also champion emerging playwrights through their EMERGE nights. EMERGE has become one of London’s most exciting new writing nights, acting as a launch pad for work such as 'The Phlebotomist' (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs) and 'CHUTNEY’.
Georgie Staight is a freelance theatre director based in London. Her directorial credits include Into the Numbers, which had a sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre and received critical acclaim. Other critically acclaimed productions include Section 2, premiered at Bunker Theatre in earlier this year, Dubailand and Dreamless Sleep, which she wrote and directed.
www.fluxtheatre.com
Running Time: Approx 120 minutes inc interval | Suitable for ages 16+
Company Information
Directed by Georgie Staight Written by Reece Connolly
Sound by Ben Winter Lighting by Matt Cater
Set & Costume by Jasmine Swan Produced by Zoe Weldon
Listings information
Bunker Theatre, 53A Southwark St, London SE1 1RU
6 Nov – 1 Dec, 7.30pm Tue – Sat, Sat matinees 3pm
£19.50 (Concs. £15, previews £12, U30s £10)
www.bunkertheatre.com | 0207 234 0486
