Cockroach

by Sam Holcroft

A dark and compelling vision of a world infected by violence. A seemingly normal detention in a seemingly normal modern-day comprehensive school. A teacher valiantly battles on with biology revision. She believes only education will set her pupils free. For outside the classroom, the world is in the middle of a long and bloody war. Despite her best efforts, the tide of conflict is soon lapping at the school gates and, one by one, pupils and teacher are pulled under as their hopes and dreams float away from them.

Genres: Plays

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, rounded up.

Holcroft has become an established playwright in the UK, but this, her debut play from 2008, left me rather cold. The first 2/3s were ok, but then I thought it went completely off the rails in the final third - becoming melodramatic and completely unbelievable (including a scene of attempted genital mutilation that seemed especially out of character and came out of nowhere). The violent ending also was problematic and seemed to me a last resort to make something noteworthy happen.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/200...
https://itsonitsgone.wordpress.com/20...
https://www.ft.com/content/ffc0aca2-a...

[Rebekah Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75. Really fascinating to see where his writing started!