The Whale

Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Ben Limberg, Joel Stillerman & Empire Street Productions

Following the success of its off-Broadway run, Samuel D.Hunter’s The Whale had its UK premiere at the Ustinov, directed by the studio’s Artistic Director Laurence Boswell. First opening in New York in 2012 to a raft of awards, including the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play and Drama Desk Special Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre, the play is the huge-hearted and fiercely funny story of a father’s final chance at salvation, and of finding hope and beauty in the most unexpected places.

Charlie, a reclusive online writing instructor, lives marooned on a couch. Weighing in at six hundred pounds, he is slowly eating himself to death. But redemption may be within reach as he tries to reconnect with his estranged, sharp-tongued daughter. A conveyor belt of visitors – welcome and otherwise – move through his living room, from his friend and nurse Liz, the sister of his deceased boyfriend, to Elder Thomas, a hopeful young missionary and Mary, his ex-wife. Can any of them help him to see a future?

Laurence Boswell is an Olivier Award winner, Artistic Director of the Ustinov Studio and an Associate Artist of the RSC. His recent productions include The Mentor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Theatre Royal’s Main House, and Trouble in Mind, The Mother, Intimate Apparel and The Spanish Golden Age Season in the Ustinov Studio.

Samuel D.Hunter’s playwriting credits include A Bright New Boise (Obie Award, Drama Desk nomination for Best Play), The Few, A Great Wilderness, Rest, Pocatello, Lewiston, Clarkston, and most recently, The Healing and The Harvest.