The return of Sarah Kane’s shocking play Cleansed: ‘My friends are scared to see it’
The Almeida Theatre is reviving Sarah Kane’s controversial 1998 play 'Cleansed', known for its extreme violence and exploration of human depravity. Director Rebecca Frecknall discusses the play's enduring relevance and the challenges of staging such intense material.
Why it matters
The revival highlights the ongoing cultural significance of Kane's work and the evolution of modern British theatre's approach to provocative themes.
The late playwright’s violent, sexually explicit drama is often regarded as one of the most ‘hardcore’ pieces of modern British theatre. Director Rebecca Frecknall and star Leo Bill speak to Louis Chilton about the Almeida’s new revival, and why there’s so much more to ‘Cleansed’ than just the sensational stories of fainting audiences
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