It Never Happened: State Terror in Eight Easy Stages

(Paperback)

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Description

It Never Happened (or State Terror in Eight Easy Stages) eavesdrops on eight different periods from the past: two soldiers reflect on the prospect of imminent death caused by their government's greed; a political fixer makes an awkward sex scandal go away; a young journalist discovers that integrity doesn't pay the mortgage; and a domestic assault turns into a witchcraft trial. Torben Betts' new play is a furious but darkly funny indictment of state-sponsored murder and how governments efface their misdeeds from history with the help of a complacent press and public.

Reviews

just about the most original and extraordinary writer of drama we have...a boldly visionary poet...a political Beckett...a flamingly original writer we ignore at our peril. -- Liz Lochhead * National Poet of Scotland *
an uncommonly talented playwright * Time Out *
Betts has a profound and highly original theatrical voice * Daily Telegraph *

Author Bio

Torben Betts read English Literature & English Language at the University of Liverpool before training and working as an actor. Works include: The Unconquered, Best New Play 2007 Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (Tron/Traverse/Arcola/Brits-off-Broadway); A Listening Heaven, nominated for Best New Play at the 2001 TMA Awards (Edinburgh Royal Lyceum); Lie of the Land, nominated for Edinburgh Fringe First Award, 2008 (Edinburgh Pleasance/Arcola); Clockwatching (Orange Tree Theatre); The Company Man (Orange Tree Theatre); The Biggleswades (Southwark Playhouse); Five Visions of the Faithful (Edinburgh Festival); The Lunatic Queen (Riverside Studios); The Error of Their Ways (HERE Arts Center, New York); The Swing of Things (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough).