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Picture Ourselves in Latvia

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  2w, 4m

A contemporary comedy on contemporary England. Desires are suppressed and aspirations thwarted for both the staff and patients of a psychiatric ward. Rank and rule clash with what the heart and mind want in this environment of division and distraction.

Picture Ourselves in Latvia

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 4m
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Named "Best of 2014" by L Magazine

Details

Summary

A contemporary comedy on contemporary England. Desires are suppressed and aspirations thwarted for both the staff and patients of a psychiatric ward. Orderly Oliver pines for Margaret Thatcher. Dr Rupert wants Nurse Whitehall who wants Dr Rupert. But Dr Rupert and his wife are trying for a baby and Nurse Whitehall, who is also married, has just returned from maternity leave.  As for the patients, Duncan secretly loves Anna who secretly loves Martin who openly loves no one. Both a love story and a modern allegory of the state, Picture Ourselves in Latvia confronts the impossibility of categorising people as either sane or insane.

History

First produced by New Light Theater Project at Access Theater, New York City. Directed by Sarah Norris.

DR. RUPERT – A psychiatrist. Very English.
NURSE WHITEHALL – A nurse.
OLIVER – An orderly.
MARTIN – A patient.
DUNCAN – A patient.
ANNA – A patient. Very Latvian.
  • Time Period New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting A psychiatric ward in England.

Media

REVIEWS

"This play is the real deal: both light and heavy, romantic and cynical, and always bracingly unpredictable ....  It seems like a romantic comedy sometimes, but then this recedes and some kind of dangerous political point emerges like the fin of a shark in the water .... a little miracle" - L Magazine, Read More

"Howard has the mechanics of his craft well in hand. The characters are all drawn consistently, and clearly they have inspired the actors." - TheatreScene.net, Read More 

"Picture Ourselves in Latvia is at times charming, surprising, uncomfortable, hilarious and terrifying .... an extraordinary experience." - Charged FM, Read More 

Billed as a comedy, Picture Ourselves in Latvia, is that, and much, much more.  It is a perceptive study of people and situations and the complications therein.  It is the impossibility of categorizing people as either sane or insane.  It is a love story and a story of human behavior. - See more at: http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/picture-ourselves-in-latvia#sthash.PrdhQv1H.dpuf

"What is accomplished here with bare bones space and set is nothing short of a miracle. Billed as a comedy, Picture Ourselves in Latvia, is that, and much, much more.  It is a perceptive study of people and situations and the complications therein.  It is the impossibility of categorizing people as either sane or insane.  It is a love story and a story of human behavior." - Woman Around Town, Read More

Billed as a comedy, Picture Ourselves in Latvia, is that, and much, much more.  It is a perceptive study of people and situations and the complications therein.  It is the impossibility of categorizing people as either sane or insane.  It is a love story and a story of human behavior. - See more at: http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/picture-ourselves-in-latvia#sthash.PrdhQv1H.dpuf

"The characterizations are rich, and Mr Howard’s script, punctuated with absurdist deadpan opportunities, has a promising Monty Pythonesque tone. " - The New York Times, Read More 

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Ross Howard

Ross Howard’s work has been seen in London (Theatre 503, Old Vic Tunnels, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Riverside Studios, Menier Gallery, Old Red Lion, Park Theatre, Finborough Theatre, Canal Cafe Theatre, Southwark Playhouse), New York City (Cherry Lane Theatre, Theatre Row, A ...

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