But that's what this is, isn't it? The ultimate bitch fight. When John takes a break from his boyfriend, he accidentally meets the girl of his dreams. Filled with guilt and indecision, he decides there is only one way to straighten this out . . . Mike Bartlett's razor sharp play about love and longing provides us with questions of who we are and who we want to be. John's refusal to fix his identity disturbs and disrupts the lives of those around him in this contemporary tale of sex without nudity and struggle without violence. Mike Bartlett's punchy story takes a playful, candid look at one man's sexuality and the difficulties that arise when you realise you have a choice. Cock premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 13 November 2009. SUITABLE FOR AGES 16+ WARNINGS Strong language, sexual reference RUNNING TIME 90mins TICKETS �18 | �16 (student/OAP/unemployed) WRITTEN BY Mike Bartlett DIRECTED BY Katie O'Halloran PRODUCERS Muirenn Lyons & Sarah Wiley COSTUME DESIGN BY Sarah T Mooney STAGE MANAGER BY Sarah T Mooney CAST Claire Gleeson, Joseph Ryan Warner, Padraic McGinley and Sean McManus About The Company Mike Bartlett is a multi-award-winning playwright and screenwriter. He was Associate Playwright at Paines Plough, Writer-In-Residence at the National Theatre, and Pearson Playwright in Residence at The Royal Court Theatre. His play King Charles III won the Critic's Circle Award for Best New Play and the Olivier Award for Best New Play, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best New Play. Love Love Love won Best New Play in the 2011 Theatre Awards UK, and Cock won an Olivier Award in 2010 for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. He won the Writer's Guild Tinniswood and Imison prizes for Not Talking and the Old Vic New Voices Award for Artefacts. Director Katie O'Halloran is a Dublin-based stage and screen director, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She works across multiple mediums in Ireland and internationally.Directing credits: The Pendulum Moon (Druid Debut Reading), Curse of the Starving Class, Big Maggie (The Lir Academy), Hamlet (dlr Mill Theatre), Revolutionary, Eden Hotel (Volya Theatre), Happy Capital, The Perfect Immigrant, Eleanora Salter & the Monster from the Sea (Dublin Fringe Festival), T�r na n�g (Aon Sc�al Theatre), Trifles, Lungs (Pale Blue Dot Theatre Co.) and In Vitro (Dublin Gay Theatre Festival).In 2022, Katie was the recipient of the Marie Mullen Bursary with Druid Theatre, and was the assistant director on their productions of The Last Return and the DruidO'Casey cycle. Katie was also selected as a Studio Director with the Irish National Opera and worked with the company throughout their 2022-2023 season. Katie holds a BFA (Hons) in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory (concentrations in Directing, Acting, Songwriting) and an MFA (Distinction) in Directing from The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art.

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… we have a small favour to ask. We don't want your money to support a hack's bar bill at Abattoir, but if you have a pound or two spare, we really encourage you to support a good cause. If this review has either helped you discover a gem or avoid a turkey, consider doing some good that will really make a difference.

You can donate to the charity of your choice, but if you're looking for inspiration, there are three charities we really like.

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Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
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Theatre MAD
The Make A Difference Trust fights HIV & AIDS one stage at a time. Their UK and International grant-making strategy is based on five criteria that raise awareness, educate, and provide care and support for the most vulnerable in society. A host of fundraising events, including Bucket Collections, Late Night Cabarets, West End Eurovision, West End Bares and A West End Christmas continue to raise funds for projects both in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Acting For Others
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities. During the COVID-19 crisis Acting for Others have raised over £1.7m to support theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
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