alphabetical author index

Natural Cause, The

  • Robert Holman
  • Full Length Play, Drama, Contemporary
  • 4M, 2F
  • ISBN: 9781848428560

"When I was a lad, little kiddie, I had this dream. And that was to burn down the world. Smash it up."

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama

  • Time Period: Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre
A dark and disturbing portrait of mental illness, and its effects on a young family.

Barry and Mary are expecting a child. Barry is a bus conductor, but he'd like to drive the bus one day instead. His mother keeps telling Mary that Barry's not right, and that she should leave him. But Mary chooses to stick with Barry, for better or in fact the worse.

Robert Holman's play The Natural Cause was first performed at the Cockpit Theatre, London, in May 1974. Although written after his earlier play Mud, The Natural Cause was Holman's first full-length play to be staged.

The Natural Cause is available in the volume Robert Holman Plays: One.

Premiere Production: Cockpit Theatre, London, 1974.
  • Casting: 4M, 2F
  • Casting Attributes: Expandable casting
  • Casting Notes: Plus additional voices.