Reviews

Burying Your Brother in the Pavement by Jack Thorne

jameshafoster's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

'When your brother’s dead’ song with furniture coming to life (Beauty and the Beast) 

Younger brother, Tom, grappling with difficult relationship with older brother, Luke 

Revelation - Luke is gay 

Tom living on the street 

Turns out Luke’s death = suicide. Never felt he was good enough for anyone 

 

Characters 

TOM 

MR WILKINS 

COURTNEY 

BOY SOPRANO AUNTIE HELEN 

FRIENDLY PHIL 

UNCLE GERRY 

TIGHT 

MARTIN 

LUKE 

BILL 

SIMON 

SANDRA 

LEO 

LIBBY 

RICKY 

JK 

DRUNK BILL 

DAVID McPHEE 

MISS HANDS 

PUSHCHAIR MUM 

BABYFATHER 

ESTATE AGENT 

STAN 

CLIENT 

PC BOB 

PC ВПТ 

UNDERWEAR MAN 

And MOTHERS, FURNITURE PEOPLE, SCHOOLKIDS 

 

Production Notes 

The cast can be as large as a stage can contain, or as small as five. 

Aside from Tom, Tight, Luke and Courtney, the parts are non-gender specific. No parts are racially specific. 

There is no score, and so be encouraged to do and try everything with the music. It would be brilliant to have either live music or have someone mixing sound live onstage with the actors. The more the musicians or the sound guy can be bought into the action, the better. 

The most important thing is that this play is kept scruffy - nothing is beautiful - everything is quick and swiftly accomplished. This should look like a piece of theatre achieved on the bounce and stuffed full of life. This means two things - one, if you happen to have a brilliant rollerblader in your cast, then use her - and add a triple-Lutz somersault to the Dairylea song number. Equally, don't let the technical overwhelm: I specify a lot of spotlights in the first few pages, but these could easily be torches held up to people's faces, and, in fact, might work better like that. Scene changes should be incorporated into the action. All the stage and auditorium should be used. 

issy_jacob's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0