Debris (play)
Encyclopedia
Debris by Dennis Kelly
was produced first at Theatre 503
in London
in 2003 before it transferred to Battersea Arts Centre
the next year.
A one-act play where a brother and sister try to make sense of their dysfunctional childhood. The pair lie about their past creating new elaborate past stories, the central narrative is of the brother, Michael, who finds a baby who he names Debris trying to keep him a secret and alive from his alcoholic father confiding only in Michelle his sister who is fascinated with their mother's death and gives several contradicting stories of how she died.
In the first scene the brother describes coming home to see his father who has committed suicide
by crucifixion
. Kelly has said "I was brought up a Catholic, so, like every decent Catholic, as a child I fantasised about being crucified - it must have come from there,"
Debris was developed whilst Kelly was on attachment at the National Theatre Studio. A production by the Latchmere Theatre opens at Battersea Arts Centre in March 2004.
"Dennis Kelly's often hilarious, bizarre two-hander proves he's a name to watch." Time Out
Dennis Kelly
Dennis Kelly is a London-based writer for both the theatre and television. Oberon plays have published a volume of Dennis Kelly Plays; Debris, After the End, Osama the Hero and Love and Money...
was produced first at Theatre 503
Theatre 503
Theatre503 is located at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above the Latchmere pub. It is a performing arts venue which specialises in new work.-History:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 2003 before it transferred to Battersea Arts Centre
Battersea Arts Centre
The Battersea Arts Centre is a performance space near Clapham Junction in Battersea, in the London Borough of Wandsworth that specialises in music and theatre productions.-History:...
the next year.
A one-act play where a brother and sister try to make sense of their dysfunctional childhood. The pair lie about their past creating new elaborate past stories, the central narrative is of the brother, Michael, who finds a baby who he names Debris trying to keep him a secret and alive from his alcoholic father confiding only in Michelle his sister who is fascinated with their mother's death and gives several contradicting stories of how she died.
In the first scene the brother describes coming home to see his father who has committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
. Kelly has said "I was brought up a Catholic, so, like every decent Catholic, as a child I fantasised about being crucified - it must have come from there,"
Debris was developed whilst Kelly was on attachment at the National Theatre Studio. A production by the Latchmere Theatre opens at Battersea Arts Centre in March 2004.
"Dennis Kelly's often hilarious, bizarre two-hander proves he's a name to watch." Time Out