The Bloody Chamber: A Play

by Bryony Lavery

When a 17 year old virgin marries a mature and charismatic Marquis it seems like a fairy tale. But when the Marquis is called away on their wedding night, leaving her only her only his keys and a single instruction, her curiosity leads her to uncover a dark secret.

"All is yours, everywhere is open to you, except the lock that the single key fits. You must promise, if you love me, to leave it well alone."

Genres: Plays, Theatre

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Bryony Lavery is a British dramatist, known for her successful and award-winning 1998 play Frozen. In addition to her work in theatre, she has also written for television and radio.

Reviews

[Katya]

Hard to rate a play that requires so many visual aspects when you're just reading the text, but I thought Lavery did a good job of adapting Angela Carter's short story (and I'd love to see some of the others in Carter's short story collection "The Bloody Chamber" adapted as well!)

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anticipation is the greater part of pleasure."

I enjoyed the play and it is one I would have liked to have seen performed as there is quite a lot of aspects that relays on a visual aspect. Lavery did a very good job of adapting Angela Carter's short story. Bloody Chamber shows the aspect of stripping back the layers to the truth that is really there. In this case, Marquis and what his secret really is.

[Ariella · Rating 3 out of 5]

very very well written play!!! would absolutely LOVE to see it on stage one day, I‘ve never read the original short story and I feel like I would have benefited from it for more thorough understanding

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language used in these stories creates a beautiful and very clear ambience. Carter is excellent at dreaming up Gothic and or decadent scenery. Some of the tales were a miss for me - just not a fan of how they are told as they can be very passive. But I loved Puss in Boots, The Courtship of mr Lyon and the Lady of the House of Love.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It was rather dull. It might have been more interesting performed-but probably not.