A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

The Boy Who Kicked Pigs

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  2w, 2m

Tom Baker, Clem Garritty, Natasha Hodgson, Zoë Roberts, Oliver Jones, David Cumming

Based on the book by Doctor Who’s Tom Baker, this madly hilarious, frenetic scream of a show, which includes shark-mauling beachgoers, burning vicars, and even waltzing rats, is a multi-roling masterpiece that tells the gloriously grisly tale of one scoundrel’s attempt at infamy.

The Boy Who Kicked Pigs

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    75 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
The Boy Who Kicked Pigs

Details

Summary

13-year-old Robert Caligari is a nasty piece of work. But today is the day he gets his comeuppance. Today is the day he’s going to die.

When Robert kicks his sister’s beloved piggy bank Trevor out of the window, he sets in motion a chain of events that results in the unexpected demise of a local fishmonger. Having developed a taste for blood and sick to death of sneering imbecilic adults, Robert sets about becoming the real murderer he has always dreamed of being, all the while egged on by the newly-talking Trevor. Meanwhile, in the mind-numbingly boring offices of local paper The Kent Clarion, work experience student Philip Bottering wishes for something, anything, to report on – preferably a juicy disaster.

Based on the book by Doctor Who’s Tom Baker, this madly hilarious, frenetic scream of a show, which includes shark-mauling beachgoers, burning vicars, and even waltzing rats, is a multi-roling masterpiece that tells the gloriously grisly tale of one scoundrel’s attempt at infamy.


History
The Boy Who Kicked Pigs was originally staged at The Lowry, Salford in June 2012 as part of The Lowry’s In Development With scheme. Directed by Clem Garritty, the production featured David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, Oliver Jones and Zoë Roberts.
Performing Groups
Caligari Household / Robert’s Lair
ROBERT CALIGARI – (M, 13)
NERYS CALIGARI – (F, 10)
TREVOR THE PIGGYBANK – (Voice Only)
MRS CALIGARI – (Voice Only)
CONSTABLE
PRIVATE

In the Wig and Thistle (all aged 70+)
FRANK GRICE
SALLY
BILLY
THE OLD SEA CAPTAIN

At the Kent Clarion
THOMAS CROWE
WENDY HORSEBOX
PHILIP BOTTERING – (M, 15)

Residents of Vampire Close
TED
JUNE
MRS MILK
ROGER

At the Doctor’s Office
DOCTOR
NURSE

At the Beach
DAVE – (Voice Only)
CASSIE
PEDRO MAMIYA
SUNBATHER 1
SUNBATHER 2
SUNBATHER 3
JUANITA CHIHUAHUA

In the Wanted Ads
AGNES
BORIS
LONELY TOM
EUNICE
TERRY THE FERRET MAN
REGINALD
FILIDIA
GERTRUDE
ADMIRAL

On the Motorway
RADIO 1
RADIO 2
RADIO 3
RADIO 4
BUS DRIVER
FATHER MATTHEW
FATHER LUKE
FATHER MARK
FATHER JOHN
MR PARP
MRS PARP
PARP JUNIOR

In Robert’s Lair
CALLUM THE RAT
FELICITY THE RAT

Authors’ Casting Note: The play was written to be performed by a cast of four, which involved several quick changes (on stage and off) and each cast member playing several characters. We’ve noted how these roles can be divided up in our note on original casting. While it would be difficult to perform with a smaller cast, it could be scaled up very easily. Characters have been grouped by scene/location to make it easier to see where multi-roling is possible. Genders and ages have been added only for characters where it is important to specify. “Voice only” characters, including Trevor, were originally performed live into a microphone backstage.

The show is designed for multi-roling and for fast-paced, physical performances. As such, gender swapping is encouraged (and, if performed by a cast of four, necessary), not in order to create “drag” performances, but purely to encourage actors to create as broad a range of interesting and fun characters as possible, without being restricted to only playing characters of their own gender.

The play was written to be performed by a cast of four, which involved several quick changes (on stage and off) and each cast member playing several characters. We’ve noted how these roles can be divided up in our note on original casting. While it would be difficult to perform with a smaller cast, it could be scaled up very easily. Characters have been grouped by scene/location to make it easier to see where multi-roling is possible. Genders and ages have been added only for characters where it is important to specify. “Voice only” characters, including Trevor, were originally performed live into a microphone backstage.

The show is designed for multi-roling and for fast-paced, physical performances. As such, gender swapping is encouraged (and, if performed by a cast of four, necessary), not in order to create “drag” performances, but purely to encourage actors to create as broad a range of interesting and fun characters as possible, without being restricted to only playing characters of their own gender.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting Various locations in Kent. The present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 75 Minutes

Media

“Inventive, clever, gruesome and hilarious… a twisted triumph.” – WhatsOnStage

“A mesmerising stage show… [a] biting script… The show is just as funny as it is frightening.” – Time Out

“Beautifully built with distinctive, fully-realised comic characters and a style that carries right through flawlessly… an unusual and entertaining piece.” – British Theatre Guide

“A very mature piece of work… a full-blooded, sharp-fanged retelling of Tom Baker’s twisted novelette about murder and mayhem in deepest, darkest Kent.” – Exeunt

“A very funny show, anarchic, energetic… with excellent wordplay, memorable character bits, and an unexpectedly heartbreaking climax.” – Londonist

“Inventive, clever, gruesome and hilarious, The Boy Who Kicked Pigs is a twisted triumph.” – WhatsOnStage

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Adapting The Boy Who Kicked Pigs: A Q&A with Kill The Beast
6 November 2020

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

Tom Baker

Tom Baker

After God service, National Service and a spell in the Merchant Navy, Tom Baker became an actor. Widely experienced in film, theatre and television, he is most well known, in seventy-four countries, for his portrayal of Doctor Who. Tom Baker's well loved novel THE BOY WHO KIC ...

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Clem Garritty

Clem Garritty

Natasha Hodgson

Natasha Hodgson

Natasha Hodgson is an award-winning writer, actor, comedian and singer. She is Co-Artistic Director of SpitLip and one part of the award-winning dark comedy troupe Kill the Beast. As well as her theatre work, Natasha created and starred in her own critically acclaimed BBC Sou ...

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Zoë Roberts

Zoë Roberts

Zoë Roberts is Co-Artistic Director of both SpitLip and Kill the Beast comedy collective, and has been making stupid, award-winning stuff for over a decade. Her theatre credits include: co-writer of Operation Mincemeat (New Diorama Theatre, Southwark Playhouse & Riverside Stu ...

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Oliver Jones

Oliver Jones

David Cumming

David Cumming

David Cumming is Co-Artistic Director of SpitLip and comedy-horror troupe Kill the Beast – and a freelance theatre-maker/musician in his own right. He works as an actor, writer, director and composer, smashing comedy, drama and music together to create award-winning shows tha ...

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