Rapture

by Lucy Kirkwood

Noah and Celeste Quilter met on a blind date organised by a newspaper, fell in love, got married and had a baby. But from the very earliest days of their relationship, they were under surveillance. And when they started a fight for their future, they never guessed it would cost them their lives.

In a modern world where reality is whatever we imagine it to be, how do we know the stories we tell ourselves are true? What happens when there's only one person in the whole world you can truly trust? And what if they never take the bins out?

Rapture by Lucy Kirkwood is a slippery thriller about love, power and belief which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in June 2022, directed by Lucy Morrison. It was promoted under the title That Is Not Who I Am, by Dave Davidson, a pseudonym.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2022

About the author

British playwright and screenwriter.

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I junked an earlier review of this--yet more wanging on about the state of things. But that's what this (brilliant) play is about--how the time for all those angry observations has passed. What now is going to be done about any of it? What price will you pay for doing something? But can you -- even at great risk -- do nothing? Exactly the play we need--everyone should watch it, or at least read the text.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, rounded up.

No question Kirkwood is one of our finest contemporary playwrights, and this 'ripped-from-the headlines' story is both astonishing and riveting (and had me questioning whether it was based on fact, so I had some Googling to do!). The whole presentation under a pseudonymous author and bogus title is as brilliant a stroke of genius as is the ending coup de théâtre.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/202...
https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/c...
https://news.yahoo.com/not-am-review-...
https://www.thejc.com/life-and-cultur...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREAKY.

[Jonathan Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding. Kirkwood’s best play in my opinion. The weaving of the narrative, the chosen form and the inventiveness of the writing are all brilliant. It feels so real and I’m sure it felt so immersive going to see the first production - I really wish I’d seen it. The play feels so real, with the central two characters feeling especially well-realised. It really starts to make you question what is real and what is not.

The only misstep, for me, was the marketing of it as a play by a new undiscovered playwright. I see that it was done as part of the storyline of the play, however it came across as pretty tone deaf by the Royal Court as it was not a play by an undiscovered playwright but by one of the more established theatrical voices in the UK. (This is far more about the inaugural production than about the quality of the writing - the play as a text is everything you want from a modern play text).

[Violet-May Davey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of plot twists within this where things were revealed at the end. I loved the storyline from how Noah and Celeste met to how they ended up, still together in different ways. I also loved the comment where the tabby cat, hashtag, was the main witness. I also agreed with the fact that a lot of questions were left unanswered. It was a very nice read overall.

[Edie DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking. In. Sane. And incredible theatrical work of art. Had me at the edge of my seat and I wasn’t even watching. I was just reading. So many poignant messages about the state of the world. Relevant pre, post and during COVID, perhaps even more so recently. Read read read read

[Ellie Brayne-Whyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

im sure it was interesting to watch staged.

[Lady Aimée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was amazing. Never ever read a play concept like this in my life. But the ending was naff.

[Charlie Froy]

Cool layers.

[Natalie Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was TRIPPY I would love to see this live

[myalianom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

[theo (whoops didn’t realise this hadn’t changed) · Rating 5 out of 5]

if i do stay in edinburgh next year i desperately want to direct this

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed. Will stay with me. Potentially unsure about the ending

[Anna Kravchuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not delicate. Not subtle. Not imaginative. The idea, the marketing, the concept is great but the play itself....feels just very plain.

[kaitlyn]

This play’s been on my mind since the press run of That Is Not Who I Am by Dave Davidson and this did not disappoint. Lucy Kirkwood, the playwright that you are!