Margaret Perry Archives - The Play Podcast

Margaret Perry

by Douglas Schatz | Mar 2, 2023 | Contributor

Margaret Perry

Margaret Perry is originally from Cork in Ireland, and now lives in London. Her debut play, Porcelain, was picked from the unsolicited script pile and produced by the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 2018. Porcelain masterfully interweaves the story of a new mother in London in 2017 battling post-natal depression, with the famous 19th century Irish tale of Bridget Cleary, whose husband murdered her claiming that she had been taken by fairies.

Her second play Collapsible started life at the Vaults Festival in London in 2019, going on to win awards at both the Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe Festivals, followed by a successful run at the Bush Theatre in 2020.

Margaret joins me to talk about her new play Paradise Now! after its acclaimed run at the Bush. The Telegraph said when Paradise Now! opened in December 2022 that it “might well be the best new play of the year.”

Podcast Episode(s)

059 - Paradise Now! , by Margaret Perry

Recommended Play(s)

Margaret recommended John by Annie Baker.

059 – Paradise Now! , by Margaret Perry

by Douglas Schatz | Mar 2, 2023 | Podcast Episodes

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059 – Paradise Now! , by Margaret Perry

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The subject of this episode is a scintillating new play written by Irish playwright, Margaret Perry, which as we recorded our conversation had recently completed an acclaimed run at the Bush Theatre in London. When it opened in December 2022 the Telegraph said that Paradise Now! “might well be the best new play of the year”.

Paradise Now! brings together a group of women who sign up to a pyramid selling scheme that promotes a range of body and home oils under the brand banner ‘Paradise’. The so-called “Essential” oils offer balm to a myriad of stresses in modern life, while also promising the team that sell them both wealth and a nurturing community of supportive colleagues. ‘Paradise’ is a parody of the well-being industry and of corporate culture generally, and it is a very funny and incisive satire. It is also an affecting exploration of private ambition and the search for self-worth and connection in our fractured world of social media and short-term success. The women who join the sales scheme are themselves looking for cures to challenges in their own lives, and the road to Paradise Now! is not so sure and smooth.

I’m delighted to be joined by Margaret Perry to talk about her perceptive, funny and moving new play.

Margaret Perry

Margaret Perry, like some of the characters in her new play, is originally from Cork in Ireland, and now lives in London. Her debut play, Porcelain, was picked from the unsolicited script pile and produced by the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 2018. Porcelain masterfully interweaves the story of a new mother in London in 2017 battling post-natal depression, with the famous 19th century Irish tale of Bridget Cleary, whose husband murdered her claiming that she had been taken by fairies.

Recommended Play

Margaret recommended John by Annie Baker.

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060 – A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams

Mar 14, 2023 | Podcast Episodes

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A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the towering masterpieces of American theatre, distinguished for its frank depiction of sexual compulsion, its lyrical language, and its poignant portrait of mental fragility, as well as the bitter clash between two of the greatest dramatic characters – the damaged and defiant Blanche Dubois and the unrestrained masculine power that is Stanley Kowalski.

As a new production opens in London’s West End, I’m delighted to be joined by Tennessee Williams expert, Professor Thomas Keith, to help survey this giant of a play.

059 – Paradise Now! , by Margaret Perry

Mar 2, 2023 | Podcast Episodes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Margaret Perry’s new play Paradise Now! brings together a group of women who join a pyramid selling scheme promoting a range of essential oils that soothe a myriad of life’s stresses. The women hope that they will find cures to the challenges in their own lives, but the road to Paradise is not so sure and smooth.
Following its acclaimed run at the Bush Theatre in London, Margaret joins me to talk about her perceptive, funny and moving play.

058 – Noises Off, by Michael Frayn

Feb 6, 2023 | Podcast Episodes

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Michael Frayn’s classic comedy Noises Off is a work of theatrical genius. Its parody of a hapless acting troupe putting on a dreadful sex farce is itself delivered with extraordinary invention and precision. It has been called the funniest British comedy ever written, and now arrives in London’s West End in a sparkling 40th anniversary production directed by Lindsay Posner.

Lindsay joins me to share his unique experience of this enduring comic masterpiece.