06/07 main season

by martin mcdonagh
directed by les waters
thrust stage
january 12–march 11, 2007

running time: 2 hours and 45 minutes,
including one 15 minute intermission

the show

Get ready for an edgy and enthralling evening with The Pillowman, which blends black comedy and mystery until “whodunit” is the least of your concerns. A man tells creepy stories to entertain his mentally challenged brother—but then grisly murders that mirror these tales slice through town, and two cops come knocking. The Pillowman mesmerized audiences during its recent London and Broadway runs—don’t miss Berkeley Rep’s production.

the artists

The Pillowman netted Martin McDonagh England’s prestigious Olivier Award, and was Tony-nominated, along with his plays The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Lonesome West and Beauty Queen of Leenane, as best play on Broadway. Beauty Queen earned four Tony Awards, and Berkeley Rep presented it to great acclaim in 1999. Last year, McDonagh won an Oscar for his short film, Six Shooter. McDonagh is renowned as the only playwright since Shakespeare to have four shows running simultaneously in London’s West End.

Les Waters continues his chilling journey through spooky stories: Time Out New York named his off-Broadway Apparition one of the Best 5 Plays of 2005, and local audiences won’t soon forget his haunting Eurydice (now a Pulitzer Prize finalist) or unnerving Finn in the Underworld.