A thousand stars explode in the sky
By: David Eldridge, Robert Holman, and Simon Stephens
Contributors: Holman, Robert, 1952-; Stephens, Simon, 1971-
Publisher: Methuen Drama
Published: 2010
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Number of pages: 112
Description: On a farm in the north-east of England, four generations gather in an epic play about hope, love, fear and the end of the world. 'A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky' is a refreshingly subtle and compassionate vision of a world on the edge of apocalypse. The focus is on a single family, their relationships and their regrets, soon to become permanent. Amongst the knotty, realistic dynamics, and the scars of family history, serious themes are elucidated and alleviated with humour and quirky, surreal touches. The play opened at the Lyric Hammersmith in 2010, and represents a unique collaboration between three of the UK's pre-eminent stage writers. The ambition of the partnership is matched by the ambition of the play's sweeping scope. As the three voices collide, they also ring out individually without sacrificing the play's coherence. 'A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky' represents a rare, fascinating study in stage collaboration.