Out of the Wings

Head for Heights Theatre presents Beasts (Las Brutas): 30 August – 24 September 2011

UK premiere of the play by Juan Radrigán at Theatre 503, Latchmere Pub, 503 Battersea Park Road

Directed by Sue Dunderdale.

Translated by Catherine Boyle.

Chile, 1974. In the extreme isolation of the Andean foothills, three sisters are found hanged from a rock, their animals slaughtered beside them…
Justa, Lucia and Luciana are three Coya (indigenous Andean) sisters, and the last remnants of a large family who tried to survive in an inhospitable environment. Parents, siblings and neighbours have either died or fled the challenging landscape to find work in distant towns. Faced with ageing bodies, loneliness, and terror of unknown forces which seem to be closing in on them, the sisters make a decision which shocks a nation.
Against the backdrop of the Pinochet regime’s ascent to power, internationally-acclaimed playwright Juan Radrigán examines, movingly and at times humorously, the effect of isolation and fear on the human spirit. With poignant echoes of the 2010 Chilean miners’ crisis and resonance with marginalised communities worldwide, Beasts is a haunting portrayal of love, fear and impossible choices.

‘… an observant, sensitive and sad play, never preaching, always generous and directed with matching generosity by Sue Dunderdale.’
The Sunday Times on The Way Home
‘… sparkily translated by Catherine Boyle.’
The Daily Telegraph the RSC’s House of Desires


Juan Radrigán’s awards include: Best Chilean Play (for When All is Said and Done); Circle of Critics Prize (for The Bull by the Horns, 1983 and The Exile of the Naked Woman, 2002); Apes Prize (for Drunken Ghosts, 1997 and When All is Said and Done, 1999); the Agustin Siré Prize from the Academy of Fine Arts, 2002, and the Altazor Prize for Best Dramatist, 2005.

  • Post Show talks Tuesday 30 August, Tuesday 6 September & Tuesday 20 September
  • On Saturday 10 September, in lieu of a performance there will be a play reading and seminar about Juan Radrigán and Latin American theatre

Developed with the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, King’s College London, Out of The Wings and National Theatre Studio.

More information and online booking is available on the Theatre503 website.

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Out of the Wings

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