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Gasping
Little Theatre
Comedy
Ben Elton
Characters: 3 male, 3 female
Interior Set
The first play written by the popular author of Popcorn, Gasping is a brilliantly funny satire on big business, the media and product exploitation. Lockheart Industries is making serious money, but Sir Chiffley Lockheart needs the buzz that finding a way to make money where none has existed before gives him. Philip, a pushy workaholic executive, suggests selling designer air. Perrier for the nostrils becomes the marketing phenomenon of the decade and millions are quickly made. People start hoarding for a rainy day and oxygen supplies run low. The Third World is plundered, creating a greater divide between the haves and have nots. The world starts gasping and only the biggest suckers survive.
"A poisonously funny morality play.... A remarkable debut." London Sunday Times.
"A sharp witted satire.... Extremely funny." Independent.
Comedy
Ben Elton
Characters: 3 male, 3 female
Interior Set
The first play written by the popular author of Popcorn, Gasping is a brilliantly funny satire on big business, the media and product exploitation. Lockheart Industries is making serious money, but Sir Chiffley Lockheart needs the buzz that finding a way to make money where none has existed before gives him. Philip, a pushy workaholic executive, suggests selling designer air. Perrier for the nostrils becomes the marketing phenomenon of the decade and millions are quickly made. People start hoarding for a rainy day and oxygen supplies run low. The Third World is plundered, creating a greater divide between the haves and have nots. The world starts gasping and only the biggest suckers survive.
"A poisonously funny morality play.... A remarkable debut." London Sunday Times.
"A sharp witted satire.... Extremely funny." Independent.
68 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1990
1 person is currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Ben Elton
59 books1,475 followersBen Elton was born on 3 May 1959, in Catford, South London. The youngest of four, he went to Godalming Grammar School, joined amateur dramatic societies and wrote his first play at 15. He wanted to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead did A-Level Theatre Studies and studied drama at Manchester University in 1977.
His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memorable and incisive comedy of the past twenty years. His groundbreaking work as a TV stand-up comedian set the (high) standard of what was to follow. He has received accolades for his hit TV sitcoms, The Young Ones, Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line.
More recently he has had successes with three hit West End musicals, including the global phenomenon We Will Rock You. He has written three plays for the London stage, including the multi-award-winning Popcorn. Ben's international bestselling novels include Stark, Inconceivable, Dead Famous and High Society. He won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for the novel Popcorn.
Elton lives in Perth with his Aussie wife Sophie and three children.
His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memorable and incisive comedy of the past twenty years. His groundbreaking work as a TV stand-up comedian set the (high) standard of what was to follow. He has received accolades for his hit TV sitcoms, The Young Ones, Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line.
More recently he has had successes with three hit West End musicals, including the global phenomenon We Will Rock You. He has written three plays for the London stage, including the multi-award-winning Popcorn. Ben's international bestselling novels include Stark, Inconceivable, Dead Famous and High Society. He won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for the novel Popcorn.
Elton lives in Perth with his Aussie wife Sophie and three children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 28, 2011
Hilarious play which is a satire on capitalism, especially marketing. It works better if you imagine the actor Hugh Laurie playing the character Philip - something that did happen on the London stage scene.
August 25, 2008
typical Ben Elton and that is all that needs to be said
September 16, 2025
I can see where a top notch, well-rehearsed performance of this play could be hilarious, but reading it is not very entertaining. It is far too cold. We're not meant to care about any of the characters; they're just there to make the jokes and perform the pratfalls. I don't see any professional modern theater mounting this, and it would be extremely difficult for amateurs to pull off. So reading it is all that's available to us, and it's not successful on that level.
July 19, 2025
annoying writing, maybe not the best format, but i love a dystopian idea
June 8, 2015
I will declare at the outset I am a fan of Ben Elton's writing, ethics and comedy. Some of his books are amongst my all time favourites.
The premise of the play is to draw a parallel to the impact of corporate greed on those less affluent. I felt the fundamental idea was good and the delivery was a little rough. Having worked at a managerial level in a large corporation or two I could relate to the sycophantic behaviour of Sandy and Phillip towards the 'Chief'.
The growing gulf between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', the increasing dominance of the corporate lobbyists and the sale of public utilities are all linked back to corporate and personal greed. How much wealth is enough for the richest in our society? Do we need to take the air the people breath?
My criticisms of the book are limited to the 'dumb' language that is occasionally used, for example instead of saying appetisers or hors d'oevres using terms like 'snacky things'. This is a common tactic in Ben's comedy that I don't like.
The play was on recently in the city where I live and I only saw the posters after the closing date. I will try to see it next time.
The premise of the play is to draw a parallel to the impact of corporate greed on those less affluent. I felt the fundamental idea was good and the delivery was a little rough. Having worked at a managerial level in a large corporation or two I could relate to the sycophantic behaviour of Sandy and Phillip towards the 'Chief'.
The growing gulf between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', the increasing dominance of the corporate lobbyists and the sale of public utilities are all linked back to corporate and personal greed. How much wealth is enough for the richest in our society? Do we need to take the air the people breath?
My criticisms of the book are limited to the 'dumb' language that is occasionally used, for example instead of saying appetisers or hors d'oevres using terms like 'snacky things'. This is a common tactic in Ben's comedy that I don't like.
The play was on recently in the city where I live and I only saw the posters after the closing date. I will try to see it next time.
January 5, 2013
My first exposure to Ben Elton's work was while watching Gasping unfold across a London stage, all those years ago. Like other great writers, Elton helps open our minds and reminds us that we must see the world for what it is, rather than what others tell us to see. This particular work shouts: WAKE-THE-FOOK-UP!
July 31, 2016
Saw this in Perth and thought it a clever satire relating to our world of consumers, capitalism and resource magnates. Agreed with the sentiment. Not as laugh out loud as some of Elton's other work but a successful play, nevertheless.
October 11, 2014
Excellent satirical comment on the ruthless and shortsighted world of capitalism.
The British wry wit makes for an entertaining yet thought provoking play.
The British wry wit makes for an entertaining yet thought provoking play.
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February 3, 2018If air was oil ... lots of sucking and blowing ... a farce ... isn’t it? ... isn’t it?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews