Synopses & Reviews
A searing new play by a Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright.
Alex has his flat. His home. Hes building a life with Clare. Nothing can derail his happiness - he just wishes those kids would stop hanging round outside his house. But theyre just kids, with nothing to do. Theyre not dangerous, right?
Microcosm premiered at the Soho Theatre, London, in May 2014.
"Builds suspense marvellously... chilling and ominous." - The Upcoming
"Compelling... Hartley is particularly perceptive in capturing the sweet strangeness of people, their moments of agreement and rapture, hilarity and repugnance." - Exeunt Magazine
"Hitchcockian... an intelligent and considered piece of theatre" - Huffington Post
Matt Hartley is a playwright. His play Sixty Five Miles won the Under-26 Prize in the inaugural Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. He has also written for radio and television.
Synopsis
A blackly comic and gripping new play from a young writer making his mark on television and in theatre.
Synopsis
Microcosm explores the clash of two very different worlds and how terrifying outsiders can appear to be. Blackly comic and gripping it showcases all the strengths of Matt Hartleys previous work whilst displaying new levels of ambition and a singular style.
About the Author
Matt Hartleys first play
Sixty Five Miles was one of the winners of the inaugural Bruntwood Award and was produced by Paines Plough/ Hull Truck. In 2006 he was one of Channel 4 / Paines Plough's Future Perfect Writers. In 2012 Matt was writer on attachment at the Royal Court. Matt is currently under commission to the Royal Shakespeare Company and has written
Horizon, a play for the 2014 National Theatre Connections Festival. For television Matt currently writes on
Hollyoaks.