THE PILLOWMAN

In Irish playwright Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, a writer called Katurian, who lives in a nameless totalitarian state, finds himself in a cell being interrogated by two nasty cops. The crime is a series of gruesome child-murders that seem to mirror the plots of his own stories.

As the investigation delves deeper, shocking truths are revealed when the writer’s twisted tales begin to come to life, and the line between fiction and fact starts to blur.

“The play explores the nature, freedom and responsibility of artists and asks to what extent an artist is responsible for the actions of others in response to their work,” says director Luke Rogers of this blackest of black comedies.

“It’s the blurring of the lines between reality and fiction,” continues Rogers.

“It’s the comedy and violence that make this a fascinating and gripping piece of theatre.”

Mar 16-Apr 13, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, 1300 347 205, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au