Hymn - (Modern Plays) by Lolita Chakrabarti (Paperback)

About the Book

First performed in February 2021 at the Almeida Theatre, London.

Book Synopsis

Sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself
(Miles Davis)

Two men meet at a funeral. Gil knew the deceased. Benny did not. Before long their families are close. Soon they'll be singing the same tune.

Benny is a loner anchored by his wife and children. Gil longs to fulfill his potential. They develop a deep bond but as cracks appear in their fragile lives they start to realise that true courage comes in different forms.

Featuring music from Gil and Benny's lives, Lolita Chakrabarti's searching, soulful new play asks what it takes to be a good father, brother or son.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at London's Almeida Theatre in February 2021.

Review Quotes

"One of the beauties of Chakrabarti's script is that the characters' heritage is incidental to the emotional core of the story, rather than central ... The crisis I kept anticipating duly arrives, but it's not what I expected. Suffice to say, the expected flashpoint is internal not external, and the play ends with another thoughtful layer added to its musing on men." --Evening Standard

"Hymn, a new play from Lolita Chakrabarti, live streamed from an empty Almeida, is notable because it is so full of life...From there this two-hander spins off into an involving and emotional study of the friendship that develops between the two contrasting figures...mind-blowingly excellent." --WhatsOnStage

About the Author

Winner of the 2012 Most Promising Playwright Evening Standard award, Lolita Chakrabarti is a British actress and writer who has worked extensively on stage and screen. Her most recent acting theatre credits include The Great Game, Afghanistan for The Tricycle, Last Seen - Joy for the Almeida, Free Outgoing for the Royal Court and John Gabriel Borkman for the Donmar Warehouse. Her acting screen credits include The Casual Vacancy, Jekyll and Hyde, My Mad Fat Diary season 3, Vera, Outnumbered, Hustle, Extras Christmas Special, Holby City, Silent Witness, Amnesia, William and Mary, Fortysomething, Bodies, and Forgiven. Writing credits include The Goddess for Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4, Faith, Hope and Blue Charity, also on BBC Radio 4 and Last Seen - Joy for Slung Low and the Almeida. In 2012, Red Velvet was the first play performed under the Tricycle's new artistic director Indhu Rubasingham. It returned to the Tricycle in 2014 before having its US premiere at St Ann's Warehouse New York. Lolita Chakrabarti also runs Lesata Productions with Rosa Maggiora. Their short film won Best Short Narrative at PAFF, Los Angeles 2012. They are currently in development with their first feature. www.lesataproductions.co.