“I expect the plummet, I brace, but no. The wind is now a breeze is now a whisper and I’ve stopped; suspended in the sky …”
“searingly modern and strikingly timeless, a necessary drama for now.” ★★★★ – The Spy In The Stalls
“Caterpillar is both fun and darkly funny, as are the cast, particularly [Tricia] Kelly, whose mix of soft charm and dignified fragility as Maeve is beautiful to watch.” – The Guardian
“a great story brilliantly told … perceptive storytelling than neatly balances the hopes of damaged people with the cruelties that they are capable of” – Aleks Sierz
“There’s much to be taken away about love and life in this amusing and multi-layered production.” ★★★★ – LondonTheatre1
“wistful and tense … Carr’s ear for natural, funny dialogue distinguishes it from the outset” – The Stage
“Soaring performances and a script that refuses to fall into sugary sentimentality make Carr’s Caterpillar a winner … This hard-hitting drama is peppered with black humour and delivered with tenacity, grace and spirit.” – South London Press
“Carr’s piece is fresh and witty. Taut, funny and warm … a story which remains complex and humane at heart” ★★★★ – The Upcoming
“Carr’s writing has much to commend it – not least its boldness in taking contemporary issues head on” – Broadway World
“Carr’s intricate and confident drama [delivers] across the board … moments of brilliance bounce straight into the laps of the audience.” ★★★★ – The Spy In The Stalls
“a truly splendid show … done cleverly and with a confidence that is a testament to the actors, director, and writer’s clear talent and bravery.” – A Younger Theatre
“Carr has [a] knack for embedding comedy in her characters’ voices, offering up engaging, complex portraits of humanity.” – Theatre Box
“a masterpiece … a brilliant piece of new writing” ★★★★ – Blackstar Arts
“a carefully written, cleverly modest drama of motherhood and mental health that poses important questions” – Once A Week Theatre
“funny, moving and honest” – Guardian readers’ favourite theatre of 2018
Tricia Kelly – nominee, Off West End Theatre Awards for Best Female in a Play
Bayview is the only B&B closed for business on the busiest weekend of the year in this faded seaside town.
Greasy fish n chips, sticks of rock and a pot-bellied Spiderman is throwing himself off the pier. The annual ‘Birdman’ competition is in full flight.
Simon is here to compete and turns up looking for a bed for the night but everything at Maeve’s beloved B&B is off kilter. Her daughter Claire is here to help or is she just making things worse?
You see, there’s a fine line between flying and falling.
CATERPILLAR is a darkly funny, searing and tender drama about when we find ourselves standing on the edge, do we dare to step off?
CATERPILLAR was finalist in the Theatre503 Playwriting Award. The play had its world premiere at Theatre503 in August 2018 before heading to Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre where it had been part of the Summer Play Readings 2017. The play was directed by Yasmeen Arden and produced by Small Truth Theatre, Michelle Barnette Productions and Theatre503.
The CATERPILLAR playtext is published by Nick Hern Books
Photographs by The Other Richard, Alex Harvey-Brown, Tristram Kenton
Alison Carr 