Synopsis
The Southbury Child
Published by Nick Hern Books
3 Male 6 Female
Raffish, urbane and frequently drunk, David Highland has kept a grip on his remote coastal parish through a combination of disordered charm and high-handed determination
When his faith impels him to take a hard line with a bereaved parishioner, he finds himself dangerously isolated from public opinion
As his own family begins to fracture, David must face a future that threatens to extinguish not only his position in the town, but everything he stands for
Stephen Beresford's play The Southbury Child is a darkly comic drama exploring family and community, the savage divisions of contemporary society, and the rituals that punctuate our lives
It was co-produced by Chichester Festival Theatre and the Bridge Theatre, London, in 2022, starring Alex Jennings and directed by Nicholas Hytner
REVIEWS
"Hugely cathartic, this is the play of the year so far ... blissfully funny and ineffably touching ... a heaven-sent new play" ~ Telegraph
"A rare and heartfelt portrait of post-Christian Britain" ~The Times
"Beautifully crafted ... Beresford has captured a moment of change in our time ... It's a cracking state of the nation piece" ~ WhatsOnStage