Earthquakes In London

by Mike Bartlett

National Theatre, Cottesloe (Dorfman) Stage

August 4, 2010

Optional Supplemental/Background Information

The following information gives some contextual information about the play including details about the playwright and the history of the story and the original production. It is intended for you to use as much or as little as interests you and is in no way required for you to be familiar with it in regards to our discussions.

SCOTT’S TAKE

Mike Bartlett is one of the more prolific young playwrights in Britain. Much like Caryl Churchill, his work is distinguished by a lack of discernible style. All of his plays are very different in form. EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON was a huge jump for him as most of his plays prior to this production were very small, with little to know scenic needs. Even though the play was produced in the small Cottesloe (Dorfman) theatre at the National, it pushed the demands on the space to its limits. His next play, 13, was also produced at the National, but on the Olivier Stage, making him one of the few young playwrights to write for that stage in years.

He is best known for two plays. The first is KING CHARLES III, written in blank verse, about the ascention of Prince Charles to the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth. The play won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2015 and was subsequently adapted to a film which was shown on Masterpiece in the United States. The second is ALBION, a state of the nation play set during the height of the Brexit movement (though it never mentions Brexit in the play).

Bartlett is currently very visible on London stages. His early play, COCK, is currently in a revival at the Ambassador’s Theatre. He has two new plays opening this week: SCANDALTOWN at the Lyric Hammersmith and THE 47TH at the Old Vic. THE 47TH is about the 2024 Presidential election, written in blank verse, and focusing on Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Invanka Trump.

MEDIA (Print): Review by Dan Rebellato

MEDIA (Print): Guardian Interview with Mike Bartlett - “Earthquakes Everywhere”.

MEDIA (Audio): Simon Stephens Interview with Mike Bartlett.

MEDIA (Audio): Interview by Theatre Voice

MEDIA (Images): Press photos from the National Theatre production in the Cottesloe (Dorfman) Theatre

GLOSSARY

  • 2525 - “In the Year 2525” was a song by Zager and Evans, their only hit, released in 1968. It tells of a future in which humankind becomes completely sedentary and automated; the song finally forecasts the complete destruction of the Earth’s resources and the extenction of the human race.

  • Pigeon Hole - a small compartment where letters and messages can be left.

  • Rohypnol - AKA “roofies,” known for it’s use as a date-rape drug.

  • Cheese plant - Swiss cheese plant, house plant that has large holes in its leaves.

  • Terminator 3 - Third installation of the movie franchise where the antagonist (who is made from liquid metal) takes the form of a woman.

  • Coalition government - Form of government in which political parties cooperate to form a government due to no single party achieving an absolute majority after an election.

  • Grand Theft Auto - Series of super successful video games that primarily involves driving and shooting.

  • Coldplay - One of the most popular rock bands of the early 21st-century that also has a rabid base of music critics and serious music fans who absolutely despise them. “Grindingly tedious” is a fair description of their music.

  • Glastonbury - 5-day performing arts festival in Somerset, England.

  • Atomisation - Separating something into fine particles.

  • Eritrea - A northeast African country on the Red Sea coast. It shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti.

  • Boffin - A scientific expert, especially one involved in technological research.

  • Bods - Fellows. Guys.

  • Hampstead Heath - A large, ancient London heath in the Camden section of London.

  • Parliament Hill - An area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath. The hill is notable for its views of the capital's skyline.

  • Primrose Hill - the second highest point in London (Parliament Hill is the highest) just north of Regents Park.

  • Blue Peter - BBC Television show for children that premiered in 1958 and is still running. It’s the longest-running children’s TV show in the world.

  • “When Nevvile Chamberlain came back from Hitler…” - Meeting known as the Munich Agreement. In 1938, the UK, France, and Itally allowed Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia as an act of appeasement in order to stop Hitler’s advance through Europe and thereby keeping peace. The recent Netflix film “Munich: The Edge Of War” is set during these negotiations.

  • “…long history of earthquakes in the capital”

  • Liberty - Liberty London. Luxury designer department store designed in the Tudor style. know for its discovery and early championing of now=famous designers. The store plays a large role in the recent Disney movie Cruella. Their YouTube channel is a fascinating world of poshness.

  • Deed poll - Legal document that proves a change of name.

  • Tuvalu - Independent island nation in the South Pacific within the British Commonwealth. Just north of Fiji and east of the Solomon Islands, its 9 islands comprise small, thinly populated atolls and reef islands with palm-fringed beaches and WWII sites.

  • Victoria Station - Large reailway and Underground station just south of Buckingham Palace.

  • Waterloo Bridge - Automobile and foot bridge that lies between Embankment and Blackfriars. When traveling south, the National Theatre is on the left and the Royal Festival Hall is on the right.

  • Bath - Largest city in the county of Somerset, known for and named after its Roman-built baths.

  • Thomas Hood - (23 May 1799 – 3 May 1845) was an English poet, author and humorist, best known for poems such as "The Bridge of Sighs" and "The Song of the Shirt".

  • Solomon - Second and last king of the United Kingdom of Israel. Known for his great wisdom.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • 2002: THE LOVE AT LAST - Edinburgh Fringe

  • 2002: SWIMMING FOR BEGINNERS – The Workshop Theatre, Leeds

  • 2003: WHY PEOPLE REALLY BURN – Edinburgh Fringe

  • 2005: SILENT CHARITIES – Finborough Theatre

  • 2005: COMFORT (24-hour play) – Old Vic

  • 2006: STUFF I BURIED IN A SMALL TOWN – Hampstead Theatre

  • 2007: MY CHILD – Royal Court Theatre

  • 2008: ARTEFACTS– The Bush Theatre

  • 2008: CONTRACTIONS – Royal Court Theatre

  • 2009: COCK – Royal Court Theatre

  • 2010: EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON – National Theatre,

  • 2010: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE – Paines Plough

  • 2011: 13 – National Theatre

  • 2012: CHARIOTS OF FIRE - Hampstead Theatre

  • 2013: BULL – Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield

  • 2013: MEDEA – Headlong

  • 2014: AN INTERVENTION - Watford Palace, Watford

  • 2014: KING CHARLES III - Almeida Theatre

  • 2015: GAME - Almeida Theatre

  • 2016: WILD - Hampstead Theatre

  • 2017: ALBION – Almeida Theatre

  • 2018 - SNOWFLAKE – Old Fire Station, Oxford

  • 2019: VASSA –Almeida Theatre

  • 2022: THE 47th – Old Vic (opens April 7)

  • 2002: SCANDALTOWN - Lyric Hammersmith (opens April 7)