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Anatomy of a Suicide
"Alice Birch's new play is scored like a piece of music... It is an extraordinary echoing text, full of pain and strange beauty. The three stories play out simultaneously on stage, the dialogue from one scene overlapping with the other two in a manner that borders on the choral... Birch has provided a text that explores these ideas in a formally invigorating way." The Stage
Three generations of women. For each, the chaos of what has come before brings with it a painful legacy.
A powerful, unflinching look at a family afflicted with severe depression and mental illness. Presented as a triptych of plays performed side by side, this groundbreaking play reverberates with audiences and readers. Published for the first time in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series, this edition features a brand new introduction by Ava Davies.
Three generations of women. For each, the chaos of what has come before brings with it a painful legacy.
A powerful, unflinching look at a family afflicted with severe depression and mental illness. Presented as a triptych of plays performed side by side, this groundbreaking play reverberates with audiences and readers. Published for the first time in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series, this edition features a brand new introduction by Ava Davies.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 25, 2017
It's particularly difficult to judge this play on the page, because reading it is such a different experience, I would imagine, than seeing it staged. The conceit is that there are actually three separate, but linked, plays being performed simultaneously, and to accommodate the text, Birch has published it printed sideways in minute font (seriously, like a 6 pt.) in order to cram it all on the page. The play details the story of three generations of women, all with serious depression and other assorted mental health issues; in production these are helpfully delineated by surtitles stating the action occurs in 1972, 1998, and 2033 respectively, but that is nowhere delineated within the script, and reading it, one has to intuit that by oneself. Despite that potential drawback, it all begins to make sense, with the overriding principle being that suicidal tendencies can be inherited or handed down from generation to generation. Whether that is plausible or not, Birch has presented herself with a daunting task in 'orchestrating' the scenes, and only partially succeeds; there are times at which the action is clumsily halted in one or two of the triptych in order for the third scene to play out with full attention given. Points given for degree of difficulty, but am not sure it all holds together quite as intended; I would have to see a production to fully judge.
June 15, 2017
One of my favourite plays of the year - text and production. A technicaally dazzling, profoundly sad, formally inventive work that moves and thrills. I adored it.
More here: https://harryrmcdonald.wordpress.com/...
More here: https://harryrmcdonald.wordpress.com/...
December 11, 2023
God. I don't think I've read a play that's made me feel this way since Incendies. Alice Birch is truly a genius with this one. I loved the formatting, I loved the interconnections, I loved Anna and Bonnie and Carol. It does hit a special cord to my heart as a woman in a family of women but I don't think it makes me biased in saying this is beautiful. I wish there was more of it, more time I could spend with these three women, more pages in the play. Somehow Birch manages to fit 3 lives in 250 pages. I want to write like this.
May 29, 2024
I know I like to brand myself as a sad book enjoyer™️ and so it feels slightly caricatural that I picked up this book and gave it 5 stars but this was. So. Good.
This play is written horizontally across the pages, with three different timelines. It follows, Carol (grandmother), Anna (mother), and Bonnie (daughter) as they struggle with depression.
The typeset of that play makes it so that you have echoes across all three stories, making it that much more moving. This is the kind of story that had me staring into space, lost in my thoughts, after I finished reading it.
I would give up my left arm to see a rendition of this.
This play is written horizontally across the pages, with three different timelines. It follows, Carol (grandmother), Anna (mother), and Bonnie (daughter) as they struggle with depression.
The typeset of that play makes it so that you have echoes across all three stories, making it that much more moving. This is the kind of story that had me staring into space, lost in my thoughts, after I finished reading it.
I would give up my left arm to see a rendition of this.
May 27, 2023
I want to see this done as an actual production so the storylines really have their time to overlap and intertwine like intended. Regardless, this is an incredibly heart wrenching but inventive concept that can come across as slow but also somehow intense at the same time.
December 3, 2021
Devastating and yet tenderly funny. Structurally astonishing. Almost more of an orchestration than simply a play. I can imagine that seeing this play fully staged would be staggering.
January 11, 2026
Massa complexa, impossible de llegir. Veure la versió teatral.
December 4, 2025
Three heartbreaking stories performed simultaneously on a stage, following three generation of broken women. It was quite difficult to read due to the formatting. I’d be very interested in seeing it staged.
June 1, 2025
Amb aquesta lectura acaba una altra temporada del club llegim el teatre.
Crec que és millor veure l’obra que llegir-la perquè la lectura pot resultar incòmoda pel seu format a tres columnes, tot i que l'autora les lliga perfectament, dedicant cadascuna d’elles a cadascuna de les protagonistes.
El tema et fa pensar en les herències genètiques i obre un debat no per vell menys interessant: les persones som com som pel naixement o pel nostre entorn? El caràcter neix o s'adquireix?
Crec que és millor veure l’obra que llegir-la perquè la lectura pot resultar incòmoda pel seu format a tres columnes, tot i que l'autora les lliga perfectament, dedicant cadascuna d’elles a cadascuna de les protagonistes.
El tema et fa pensar en les herències genètiques i obre un debat no per vell menys interessant: les persones som com som pel naixement o pel nostre entorn? El caràcter neix o s'adquireix?
May 1, 2025
Aunque al principio me costó seguir la trama, pude imaginar esta obra de teatro cómo si la estuviera viendo interpretar por los personajes.
December 21, 2022
The play, by the same name, by Alice Birch received recognition for it's intensely personal way of expressing the phenomena of generational trauma. While individual life experience shifts the way we are able to perceive the characters and events the way specific details and through lines makes us feel as though we are a part of the action on stage.
Similar to it's live performances, the transcript of Anatomy of a Suicide is heavy and in some emotionally foreign ways very comforting. Where the live version allows the audience to collect a more whole picture of the mannerisms of the primary characters, reading the play allows for a great deal of self reflection. The way in which each women is lost is written as though it happened in an instant, that there was nothing to stop the inevitable.
My experience reading this book may be different from some others but I saw my mother and my grandmother, and my great grandmother in those stories. Without a doubt this made the ending hit me far harder than if things would have been otherwise. While the ending doesn't give promise to a better future for Bonnie and every step she takes away from her family's history hurts, we know that something in her has stirred a change; a desire for something more than a blood soaked family home. It gives me hope that I can take a step back from certain unhealthy parts of myself without loosing myself completely.
Similar to it's live performances, the transcript of Anatomy of a Suicide is heavy and in some emotionally foreign ways very comforting. Where the live version allows the audience to collect a more whole picture of the mannerisms of the primary characters, reading the play allows for a great deal of self reflection. The way in which each women is lost is written as though it happened in an instant, that there was nothing to stop the inevitable.
My experience reading this book may be different from some others but I saw my mother and my grandmother, and my great grandmother in those stories. Without a doubt this made the ending hit me far harder than if things would have been otherwise. While the ending doesn't give promise to a better future for Bonnie and every step she takes away from her family's history hurts, we know that something in her has stirred a change; a desire for something more than a blood soaked family home. It gives me hope that I can take a step back from certain unhealthy parts of myself without loosing myself completely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2019
I’ve never read a play like this before. The 3 generations of women with their scenes taking place simultaneously on stage, it’s as if the play transcends time but time is at constant focus because all the lines and action is synced. What the playwright has done with the timing of the play and how this works in production, particularly if this is scored with music, strikes me as painstaking work but also a breathtaking privilege to watch. I love how the different generations are linked in the scenes with characters a generation ago as parents or mistaken for their parents in scenes side by side. It is one of those very dark but very beautiful plays that create an experience that is so theatrical and special, you remember why you go to see theater and not just watch Netflix.
January 8, 2021
Anatomy of Suicide is probably my 2020's favourite reading. Alice Birch's writing and dramaturgy is outstanding, I've never read a play like this one before, with this structure, yet it screams Alice Birch's wit all over (I also read Revolt. She Said. Revolt. Again and it was an amazing reading too) It's the way Birch writes about women thorugh powerful raw characters. In this play, Birch talks about intergenerational trauma and the cost of the healing process through a brilliant structure and emotionally moving prose. I'm really looking foward to see a stage adaptation.
August 8, 2023
I would give this more than five stars if I could.
I recently read Revolt, She Said, Revolt Again (also by Alice Birch) and gave that five stars, quite rightly. But this has overshot it.
While reading it I was acutely aware of it being impossible to read it as it would be experienced on stage, as three plays all happening simultaneously and echoing across one another. Anyway suffice to say this blew my socks off and I really hope that it gets staged in London again so I can experience that, especially if they can get Katie Mitchell to restage the original production from 2017.
I recently read Revolt, She Said, Revolt Again (also by Alice Birch) and gave that five stars, quite rightly. But this has overshot it.
While reading it I was acutely aware of it being impossible to read it as it would be experienced on stage, as three plays all happening simultaneously and echoing across one another. Anyway suffice to say this blew my socks off and I really hope that it gets staged in London again so I can experience that, especially if they can get Katie Mitchell to restage the original production from 2017.
January 25, 2024
Non c’è nulla di semplice, in questa lettura.
Tre storie che ne raccontano una unica, che parlano di un dolore antico, visto e rivisto, mai affrontato, mai percepito, mai capito.
Incredibile, quanto scavi profondamente questa sofferenza.
Dal punto di vista stilistico, ci troviamo di fronte a un gioiellino: è una sceneggiatura, con tre scene che si svolgono in contemporanea, e quanta bellezza c’è in queste parole che si sovrappongono, si completano, si annullano, si incastrano tra loro.
Di una potenza non comune.
Tre storie che ne raccontano una unica, che parlano di un dolore antico, visto e rivisto, mai affrontato, mai percepito, mai capito.
Incredibile, quanto scavi profondamente questa sofferenza.
Dal punto di vista stilistico, ci troviamo di fronte a un gioiellino: è una sceneggiatura, con tre scene che si svolgono in contemporanea, e quanta bellezza c’è in queste parole che si sovrappongono, si completano, si annullano, si incastrano tra loro.
Di una potenza non comune.
August 13, 2019
I so wish I could have seen Katie Mitchell’s staging of this play as it feels like one of the most revolutionary ideas for format. Because it is written more like sheet music than your regular script, it feels daunting at first..
...but when you get to the first 3 part harmony—it stops your breath. This play is gorgeous and haunting and very very sad. But I loved it so much I just wanted to immediately read it again.
...but when you get to the first 3 part harmony—it stops your breath. This play is gorgeous and haunting and very very sad. But I loved it so much I just wanted to immediately read it again.
October 16, 2020
I've had high expectations for any Alice Birch script after seeing (and then immediately buying and reading a copy of) Revolt, She Said Revolt Again four years ago. Still, I am in awe of this innovative play which manages to be devastatingly poignant and eeriely charming. Expectations exceeded. I remain humbled and grateful for Birch's ability to make the deeply personal, universal and significant.
April 12, 2019
Such an incredible piece. I was lucky enough to see the play in 2017 at The Royal Court and always wanted to know how such a uniquely crafted format worked on the page. It took a while to get into the rhythm, but I was as entranced reading it as I was watching it being performed. Alice Birch is an amazing writer and I will definitely be reading more of her work.
May 26, 2020
Heavy play. Not for the faint of heart. Well written, and the structure is fascinating, I’d love to see it produced. There weren’t any moments that really resonated for me, nor characters that I reeeally cared about, probably because there were just so many moments and characters, more of a stylistic thing. Worth reading. If this ever gets produced near me I would definitely go and see it.
June 21, 2025
creo que esta obra me acaba de joder la vida (acabo de llorar un poquillo) y es diferente tanto por el formato (tres historias a la vez en la misma hoja) como por la trama a todo lo que he leído últimamente. Es aceptable la crítica de que es un poco catastrofista pero me he sentido muy identificada ngl mujeres desquiciadas
April 1, 2018
Absolute scorcher. Formally inventive and uniformly devastating portrait of three women trying to push through the struggle of life. Definitely some Sarah Kane vibes, although more compassion present.
October 28, 2018
An intergenerational tale of trauma, inheritance, and the cost of healing that hits a little too close to home for me. I don't remember being so emotionally moved by something simply by reading its script - not to mention its amazingly brilliant structure. I hope to see this one day.
December 3, 2019
A great concept and raw portrayal. As I missed the show, overlapping dialogue confused me slightly and Birch’s composition of her text was sometimes hard to follow. Really unapologetic, which I loved. Plus, reading sidewards was very fun.
May 3, 2020
Possibly one of my favourite modern plays I have ever read. I wish I could have seen it onstage and I long to play Anna. I have used monologues from it several times. The only drawback as a reader is it’s quite difficult to hold the book sideways on to read it.
June 15, 2021
Very interesting play about Suicide and it's effect on generations. Though it has to be said that it's rough, and needs a gigantic TW for mental health/suicide.
And you'll need good eye sight. I've never once in my life strained my eyes to this extent before.
And you'll need good eye sight. I've never once in my life strained my eyes to this extent before.
September 2, 2023
This was a difficult read with the three sections of action happen simultaneously however it never detracted from the deep rooted emotion struggle.
It's rare for me to like a play on a first read-though. Grateful to have read it.
It's rare for me to like a play on a first read-though. Grateful to have read it.
September 22, 2024
Alice Birch has more skill and talent in her little finger than most people have in their entire body!! A MUST read, a MUST watch if you have the chance. I really hope I get to watch it live on stage! But until then, I will marvel at the writing.
July 17, 2025
Cold, harrowing & deeply sad but also very human and touching (darkly funny in places), absolutely incredible play. What I wouldn’t give to have watched Katie Mitchell’s production at the Royal Court back in 2017 - thank you Faith for lending this to me!
August 28, 2025
Absolutely stunningly written play about the power of mental illness in one family. told as three separate stories but occurring simultaneously, which requires extra focus while reading. Haunting. Make sure you have lots of happy things to do and watch after this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews