Punk Rock

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by Simon Stephens

Everything human beings do finishes up bad in the end. Everything good human beings ever make is built on something monstrous. Nothing lasts. We certainly won't . . . William Carlisle has the world at his feet, but its weight on his shoulders. He is intelligent, articulate and f***ed. In the library of a grammar school, William and his fellow sixth-formers are preparing for their mock A-Levels while navigating the pressures of teenage life. They are educated and aspirational young people, but step-by-step, the dislocation, disjunction and latent aggression is revealed.

Punk Rock premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith on 3 September 2009 in a co-production between Lyric Hammersmith and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. It is published here as a Student Edition featuring commentary and notes by Catherine Love.

The ancillary material is geared at students and considers: - an introduction outlining the play's plot, character, themes, context and performance history - the full text of the play - a chronology of the playwright's life and work - a detailed introductory analysis - extensive textual notes - questions for further study Methuen Drama Student Editions are expertly annotated texts of a wide range of plays from the modern and classic repertoires. This play includes some strong language and violent scenes.