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A Very Expensive Poison

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  6w, 8m

By Lucy Prebble
Based on the book An Expensive Poison by Luke Harding

At the time of global crises and a looming new Cold War, A Very Expensive Poison sends us careering through the shadowy world of international espionage from Moscow to Mayfair.

A Very Expensive Poison

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 8m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary

A shocking assassination in the heart of London. In a bizarre mix of high-stakes global politics and radioactive villainy, a man pays with his life. At this time of global crises and a looming new Cold War, A Very Expensive Poison sends us careering through the shadowy world of international espionage from Moscow to Mayfair.

Lucy Prebble (Enron, The Effect) brings a shocking story to the stage, adapted from the book by Luke Harding, with an astute mix of real events, vaudeville and thriller. This edition was published to coincide with the World Premiere at the Old Vic Theatre, London, in 2019.

History
A Very Expensive Poison premiered at London’s Old Vic Theatre on 20 August 2019.
Performing Groups

ANATOLY
ANDREI LUGOVOI
AUSTRALIAN CLEANER
ALEXANDER LITVINENKO
BORIS BERESZOVSKY
BREZHNEV
CABIN CREW
MARINA LITVINENKO
MARIN
DIMITRI KOVTUN
DI HYATT
DR BHATT
DR DUDHNIWALA
DR GENT
DR GUNNER
DR VIRCHIS
DS HOAR
EMMERSON
FSB OFFICER 1
FSB OFFICER 2
FSB OFFICER 3
GALINA
GORBACHEV
JON
KAMISHNIKOV
LLUBA
LLUDMILLA
MARIE CURIE
MARIO
MAN WITH STICK
NATALIA
NURSE DAVID
NURSE MICHENA
NURSE REZAN
PHOTOGRAPHER
PROFESSOR DOMBEY
RADIOLOGIST
RECEPTIONIST
RUSLAN
SERGEI
TECHNICIAN
TIM
WAITRESS
WALTER
VLADIMIR PUTIN
YELTSIN
YOUTH 1
YOUTH 2
YOUTH 3

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting Various locations in London and Moscow. 1994- 2013.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A brilliantly bold and ferociously intelligent drama about our slippery times.” – Financial Times

“This is an intriguing and ultimately very moving story.” – City Hub Sydney

“Prebble once again bases her play on fact, tells a complex story with great clarity, and adopts a variety of techniques, including direct address, puppetry and song, to create a uniquely theatrical spectacle.” – The Guardian

“Prebble has an amazing ability to translate true stories into compellingly alive theatrical experiences.” – London Theatre

“Brave, mad, brilliant.” – Time Out

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Lucy Prebble

Lucy Prebble

Lucy Prebble is a writer for film, television, games and theatre.

Lucy is Co-Executive Producer and writer on the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning HBO drama Succession, for which she has also won a WGA Award.

For television, she has written I Hate Suzie, which was co- ...

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