It Never Happened - (Oberon Modern Plays) by Torben Betts (Paperback)

About the Book

It Never Happened (or State Terror in Eight Easy Stages) eavesdrops on eight different periods from the past: two soldiers reflect on the prospect of imminent death caused by their government's greed; a political fixer makes an awkward sex scandal go away; a young journalist discovers that integrity doesn't pay the mortgage; and a domestic assault turns into a witchcraft trial.

Book Synopsis

It Never Happened (or State Terror in Eight Easy Stages) eavesdrops on eight different periods from the past: two soldiers reflect on the prospect of imminent death caused by their government's greed; a political fixer makes an awkward sex scandal go away; a young journalist discovers that integrity doesn't pay the mortgage; and a domestic assault turns into a witchcraft trial.

Torben Betts' new play is a furious but darkly funny indictment of state-sponsored murder and how governments efface their misdeeds from history with the help of a complacent press and public.

Review Quotes

an uncommonly talented playwright
Time Out

just about the most original and extraordinary writer of drama we have...a boldly visionary poet...a political Beckett...a flamingly original writer we ignore at our peril.
National Poet of Scotland

Betts has a profound and highly original theatrical voice
Daily Telegraph

About the Author

Torben Betts read English Literature & English Language at the University of Liverpool before training and working as an actor. Works include:

The Unconquered, Best New Play 2007 Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (Tron/Traverse/Arcola/Brits-off-Broadway); A Listening Heaven, nominated for Best New Play at the 2001 TMA Awards (Edinburgh Royal Lyceum); Lie of the Land, nominated for Edinburgh Fringe First Award, 2008 (Edinburgh Pleasance/Arcola); Clockwatching (Orange Tree Theatre); The Company Man (Orange Tree Theatre); The Biggleswades (Southwark Playhouse); Five Visions of the Faithful (Edinburgh Festival); The Lunatic Queen (Riverside Studios); The Error of Their Ways (HERE Arts Center, New York); The Swing of Things (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough).