Artist Descending a Staircase

Artist Descending a Staircase

Artist Descending a Staircase

Artist Descending a Staircase

Overview

In 1972 an elderly avant garde artist is murdered, leaving his two friends suspecting each other. To reveal why, successive scenes flashback toward the 1920s and then progress back to 1972. Each of the three was infatuated with Sophie. Before she tragically went blind she fell in love with one of them after viewing his picture in a gallery. Which artist Sophie loved has been a bone of contention all their lives. This full length play in one act was a radio play before it was staged to acclaim in London.

"Artfulness, artistry and art history are elegantly brought together... On one level a simple whodunit, the work is also a clever exercise in altering alignments, which makes you aware of how you have failed to see what was staring you in the face."

Want to perform this show?

Cautions

  • Caution Mild Adult Mild Adult Themes

Details

  • Genre: Period
  • Time Period: 1970s, 1950s, 1930s, 1920s
  • Target Audience: Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)

Authors

Tom Stoppard

Tom Stoppard’s most recent play, Leopoldstadt, opened at Wyndham's Theatre in 2020 and transferred to Broadway in 2022. It won multiple Awards, including an Olivier Award and Tony Award for Best Play. He wrote his first play, Enter a Free Man, whilst working as a journalist i ...

View full profile