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The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart
One wintry morning academic Prudencia Hart sets off to a conference in the Scottish Borders. Stranded there by snow, she is swept off on a dream-like journey of self discovery, complete with magical moments, devilish encounters and wittily wild music.
Inspired by the Border ballads, The National Theatre of Scotland's production of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig has toured throughout Scotland and the world since 2011. In 2013 the Royal Court Theatre presented the London premiere of this production as part of their Theatre Local strand of site specific productions.
'You shouldn't miss this for the world . . . Rambunctiously life-affirming and touchingly beautiful.' Herald
'More vibrantly alive than any piece of theatre I've seen in Scotland for years.' Scotsman
Inspired by the Border ballads, The National Theatre of Scotland's production of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig has toured throughout Scotland and the world since 2011. In 2013 the Royal Court Theatre presented the London premiere of this production as part of their Theatre Local strand of site specific productions.
'You shouldn't miss this for the world . . . Rambunctiously life-affirming and touchingly beautiful.' Herald
'More vibrantly alive than any piece of theatre I've seen in Scotland for years.' Scotsman
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2011
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254 people want to read
About the author
David Greig
67 books59 followersDavid Greig is a Scottish dramatist. He was born in Edinburgh in 1969 and brought up in Nigeria. He studied drama at Bristol University and is now a well-known writer and director of plays. He has been commissioned by the Royal Court, the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company and was Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh from 2015 until 2025, when he left to return to writing.
His first play was produced in Glasgow in 1992 and he has written many plays since, produced worldwide. In 1990 he co-founded Suspect Culture Theatre Group with Graham Eatough in Glasgow.
His translations include Camus' Caligula (2003), Candide 2000, and When the Bulbul Stopped Singing, based on a book by Raja Shehadeh. Danmy 306 + Me (4 ever) (1999) is a play written for children.
David Greig's plays include The American Pilot (2005), about America's involvement in the Middle East and Eastern Europe; Pyrenees (2005) about a man who is found in the foothills of the Pyrenees, having lost his memory; and San Diego (2003), a journey through the American dream. His latest works are Gobbo, a modern- day fairytale; Herges Adverntures of Tintin, an adaptation; Yellow Moon (2006); and Damascus (2007)
His first play was produced in Glasgow in 1992 and he has written many plays since, produced worldwide. In 1990 he co-founded Suspect Culture Theatre Group with Graham Eatough in Glasgow.
His translations include Camus' Caligula (2003), Candide 2000, and When the Bulbul Stopped Singing, based on a book by Raja Shehadeh. Danmy 306 + Me (4 ever) (1999) is a play written for children.
David Greig's plays include The American Pilot (2005), about America's involvement in the Middle East and Eastern Europe; Pyrenees (2005) about a man who is found in the foothills of the Pyrenees, having lost his memory; and San Diego (2003), a journey through the American dream. His latest works are Gobbo, a modern- day fairytale; Herges Adverntures of Tintin, an adaptation; Yellow Moon (2006); and Damascus (2007)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 29, 2022
This is the best play I have read so far... I loved it!!! Right from the beginning it is really interesting and it gets more exciting by the page!!! I laughed, was shocked, scared... I highly recommend it! :)
January 25, 2024
- It happens in ballads.
This is not a ballad.
- Not yet.
no me canso no me canso. what a perfect time to read it.
November 5, 2025
tää oli ihan mahtava!!! oon lukenu tosi vähän näytelmiä mut tää oli koukuttava ja mielenkiintonen alusta loppuun. aioin lukee täst vaan sivun tai pari mut toisin kävi ja kenties luettiin tää ääneen vuorotellen putkeen koko homma, joka ehkä teki täst vieläkin paremman ku vaan lukeminen ois tehnyt. nauroin ääneen, järkytyin käänteistä ja rakastin tunnelmaa ja draamaa. skotlanti viboista tietenkin myös plussaa koska mikään ei oo parempaa. academic debates, scottish ballads, snow storm and a devil? what could go wrong?
May 25, 2014
I saw the play in 2012. It was fantastic, a humorous feast for the senses. This play was funny, bawdy but smart, very smart. There was so much to take in that I immediately wanted to see it again. Three months later I considered going to see another performance. This would have required a five hour road trip in weather not unlike what our heroin Prudencia experienced on that fateful night. My prudent side won the debate and I did not go.
As I read the verse two years later the images of the play came back to me and laughter burst forth. Reading Prudencia allows you to take the story and the references in. Read this like a glass of wine. (better to say scotch here?) Read slowly and mull the words around in order to appreciate the verse, the witty classic and pop cultural references, and the homage to the classic ballads. The tale is bawdy and not for the faintly saint. I am not sure if I would have enjoyed this if I had not seen the performance. I most certainly would not have approved. (Hee Hee)
Performances of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart are rare. I should have made the blizzard trip to see this a second time. If you have an opportunity to see Prudencia, don’t miss it.
I will not think of Ossian, Robert Burns or a certain Australian pop singer without remember dear Prudencia’s ordeal and smiling.
As I read the verse two years later the images of the play came back to me and laughter burst forth. Reading Prudencia allows you to take the story and the references in. Read this like a glass of wine. (better to say scotch here?) Read slowly and mull the words around in order to appreciate the verse, the witty classic and pop cultural references, and the homage to the classic ballads. The tale is bawdy and not for the faintly saint. I am not sure if I would have enjoyed this if I had not seen the performance. I most certainly would not have approved. (Hee Hee)
Performances of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart are rare. I should have made the blizzard trip to see this a second time. If you have an opportunity to see Prudencia, don’t miss it.
I will not think of Ossian, Robert Burns or a certain Australian pop singer without remember dear Prudencia’s ordeal and smiling.
October 7, 2020
Colin Syme senses that something is wrong.
Something is wrong or someone is missing.
Because singer and sexer is not all Colin Syme is.
He's fighter and scholar and he's Colin Syme, Lover
With a heart as tender as Delia's slow-cooked beef.
On the outside insensitive - tough as old leather -
But cut Colin open and inside his chest find
Deep amongst the blood and the offal
Nesting.
Like a baby bird.
One word.
'Prudencia'.
Prudencia stood- vulnerable and raw.
She looked out at the crowd and then she saw
Outside - at the window, standing there,
It was him - standing all alone in the square.
The Devil - and to her surprise
He seemed to have tears in his eyes.
And Prudencia - in that moment - knew
To find your song - you first find who to sing it to.
And hers was him - her companion of two millennia.
Something is wrong or someone is missing.
Because singer and sexer is not all Colin Syme is.
He's fighter and scholar and he's Colin Syme, Lover
With a heart as tender as Delia's slow-cooked beef.
On the outside insensitive - tough as old leather -
But cut Colin open and inside his chest find
Deep amongst the blood and the offal
Nesting.
Like a baby bird.
One word.
'Prudencia'.
Prudencia stood- vulnerable and raw.
She looked out at the crowd and then she saw
Outside - at the window, standing there,
It was him - standing all alone in the square.
The Devil - and to her surprise
He seemed to have tears in his eyes.
And Prudencia - in that moment - knew
To find your song - you first find who to sing it to.
And hers was him - her companion of two millennia.
August 22, 2021
One of the best things I have ever read. It's witty, fiercely intelligent, draws on folk songs and history, and is written in verse. I would love to see the characters, story, and music come to life on the stage.
February 15, 2012
A fascinating study of folk traditions, from pub sessions, to traditional ballads, to oral storytelling, to...karaoke and YouTube video. Beautiful poetry -- how many plays are still written in verse (for meta reasons, no less)? A very unique scripting style that is remarkably easy to follow, considering the fact that there's no indication of who's actually talking (trust me, it works). I would love to see this play performed in an actual pub, but reading it and imagining it was fascinating enough.
May 29, 2022
I’m a fool who forgot to track this. Such a great play, great story and so so fun to imagine the staging
March 23, 2023
a modern folk ballad for the ages
The prose of this play is simply hilarious and wonderful and heartbreaking. Definitely worth a read and hope you get a chance to see it performed.
The prose of this play is simply hilarious and wonderful and heartbreaking. Definitely worth a read and hope you get a chance to see it performed.
October 24, 2017
How delighted was I to see that the script is out as a book.I loved this play so much. I saw it in 2016 at the GPSCY at Yale in New Haven. It was one of the best theater experiences I've ever had. My favorite part was crumpling bits of paper before the show began to make snowballs that we then threw at the actors. Who were playing all around us by the way, climbing on tables, running through the aisles, and so on.
The book was not at all a disappointment. I loved reading it, although I did rely on my memories of the show. I love that the book is basically set as a poem, with no character names beginning the lines, and few stage directions. I am a bit sad that the lines to "Can't Get You Out of My Head" are not written out on the last page, but I managed to find them myself online. I don't know how to explain how clever and fun and powerful this play is whether reading it or seeing it live. You must take the few hours it will take to read this!
The book was not at all a disappointment. I loved reading it, although I did rely on my memories of the show. I love that the book is basically set as a poem, with no character names beginning the lines, and few stage directions. I am a bit sad that the lines to "Can't Get You Out of My Head" are not written out on the last page, but I managed to find them myself online. I don't know how to explain how clever and fun and powerful this play is whether reading it or seeing it live. You must take the few hours it will take to read this!
June 3, 2023
read this and more reviews on Frayed Books:
http://frayedbooks.wordpress.com
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy, your lovin' is all I think about
(iykyk)
I had the pleasure of seeing this performed at The McKittrick Hotel in New York City in April 2023 and I am forever a changed person. I had no idea what I was getting myself into to, but I loved every second of it! After seeing it, I knew I had to read the book to catch the details I missed the first time.
I highly recommend seeing this if you can, but reading it is good too - you just need some imagination. I adore Prudencia and her will and determination. I adore her not dealing with mens bs.
I loved every second of this and will forever hold it close to my heart.
Frayed Books - blog | twitter | bookstagram | fb
http://frayedbooks.wordpress.com
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy, your lovin' is all I think about
(iykyk)
I had the pleasure of seeing this performed at The McKittrick Hotel in New York City in April 2023 and I am forever a changed person. I had no idea what I was getting myself into to, but I loved every second of it! After seeing it, I knew I had to read the book to catch the details I missed the first time.
I highly recommend seeing this if you can, but reading it is good too - you just need some imagination. I adore Prudencia and her will and determination. I adore her not dealing with mens bs.
I loved every second of this and will forever hold it close to my heart.
Frayed Books - blog | twitter | bookstagram | fb
January 14, 2020
I've loved this play ever since I first saw it around 10 years ago. Found a copy of it and couldn't resist re-reading. It is a work that definitely shines more when being performed than read, but it still can be easily appreciated on its own. Be prepared to automatically think in couplets for a while after you're done reading it.
March 19, 2024
- It happens in ballads.
This is not a ballad.
- Not yet.
This play is so much fun while also being clever and weird at the same time. I've seen it in German last winter and reading it made me appreciate the play with rhyme and words even more. Most definitely would love to see it again!
June 13, 2018
Tam Lin, traditional Scottish folk stories and iambic pentameter? Yes please (although Colin’s chant scene is really irritating and the romance between him and Pru a bit forced). Nick is definitely the best and most interesting character
August 22, 2023
A really fun ballad / play I would've loved to watch live at the National Theatre of Scotland (or elsewhere). What if you are an academic who focussed on Scottish ballads & hell when you then meet the devil? Really fun!
May 29, 2017
Incredibly interesting. Would have loved to see the play in person!
August 9, 2018
A ballad-like play about a PhD student who has an encounter with the Devil that becomes her undoing. Lyrical, fascinating to read, but it's written to be performed!
September 26, 2020
I saw this play about a year ago, and it’s one that sticks with you. I’m thinking of it this evening, and what I wouldn’t give to be able to see a production of it right now!
December 10, 2020
Very fun play to read, wish to see it on stage one day!
March 3, 2022
Beautiful play, lucky to have seen it live. Returning to the script was a wonderful hour or two. Definitely one worth reading.
December 2, 2022
Loooooved
Read
March 4, 2023just got back from seeing the play. whimsical, unnatural (or supernatural more like), and above all, exceeded my expectations
March 20, 2024
Wild romp of a play taking ballad form to dizzying new heights.
March 18, 2025
Fast-paced and quick read! Such fun prose.
July 3, 2025
THIS PLAY IS SO FIIIRREEEE
Prudencia really folked around and found out and I'm so happy for her.
Prudencia really folked around and found out and I'm so happy for her.
July 25, 2025
A play told as a story- not quite what I had expected when reading the blurb, on finishing I was left in awe.
A great story told mostly in rhyme, a fun, dark and exciting tale.
I imagine an old village pub with people performing this by a warm crackling fire as people drink pints and eat pork crackling.
A great story told mostly in rhyme, a fun, dark and exciting tale.
I imagine an old village pub with people performing this by a warm crackling fire as people drink pints and eat pork crackling.
August 28, 2017
NTS performed this in my university town and I was so fortunate my editor asked me if I would like to review it because otherwise I never would have known about it, and it's probably one of the best plays I've ever seen. (Review of there here incidentally: http://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/the...). So of course I had to own it, and I'm happy to say the beauty of the text holds up even without the performance (although, if you have a chance to see it performed, you gotta). The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is fantastically witty and clever, full of entrancing folkloric reference and pubbish cheer, an absolute must read for anyone who likes Scotland, history, folklore, or drama in general. Also, I recommend reading parts of it out lout if you can, you catch the musicality of it a bit more that way.
June 28, 2024
SO GOOD but lowkey millennial
November 18, 2015
I loved this in performance. The National Theatre of Scotland toured with it last year. There's a lot that I loved in the play that's missing for me in the script alone; but there's also a lot more depth to be found in the reading experience than I remember. As a reader, I have a much stronger sense of the distinction between poetry and prose and how they're used. Also, I picked up one some puns that I do not remember hearing. The script is definitely worth reading and if you can catch it in production, I highly recommend it. And I'm not simply saying that because I'm a sucker for Tam Lin adaptations.
January 10, 2017
This is a difficult script to judge, since at least 50% of its power comes from the singing of the ballads and environmental staging required... so it's more of a memento for those who have already seen the play than otherwise. That said, it is a fun read, and I hope the acclaimed National Theatre of Scotland production makes it here to the west coast, so I can see it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews