China Plate and Staatstheater Mainz present
Run time: 90 minutes
Age: 14+
Content warnings: Strong language, flashing lights and haze and the themes of nuclear warfare.
"Cannot recommend it enough. Apart from the subject matter's urgency, its brilliant use of multi-lingualism, technology and staging has seared it in my brain."
Audience Member
Written and performed by Chris Thorpe
Directed by Claire O’Reilly
Developed with Rachel Chavkin and Lekan Lawal
We don’t really talk about nuclear weapons much.
Even though they accompany us everywhere.
Invisible guests in cafés, on the shelves of supermarkets, in line at the cash machine.
Guests that could destroy all of that and more in a second.
A Family Business is about diplomats, activists, and a journey to change the world. If these weapons could wipe out all our tomorrows, then why aren’t we all talking about them today?
“A Family Business is brilliant. A show which encourages us to be part of the urgent conversation and action for the sake of present and future generations. A show full of hope and humanity” – Véronique Christory, Senior Arms Adviser for the International Committee of the Red Cross at the United Nations
For a further insight into the origination of the show, Chris did an interview with Louis Reitmann for Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, available on Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists website here. Chris was also interviewed by Staatstheater Mainz’s Chief Dramaturg Jörg Vorhaben, which is available to read on our News & More page here.
In partnership with Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg. Supported by Warwick Arts Centre and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Images © Rebecca Lupton & Ivan Pieri Gonzalez – picture in frame by Ahmed ElHassan [Top] Andreas J. Etter [Left]
16th January 2024 - 20th January 2024 at Staatstheater Mainz
Booking soon
24th January 2024 - 25th January 2024 at Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg
Book now1st February 2024 - 2nd February 2024 at Exeter Northcott Theatre - Barnfield Theatre
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7th February 2024 - 8th February 2024 at Tobacco Factory
Book now10th February 2024 at Pound Arts Centre
Book now12th February 2024 at Norwich Theatre Playhouse
Book now13th February 2024 at South Street Arts Centre
Book now15th February 2024 at The ShowRoom Chichester
Book now16th February 2024 at Brighton Dome
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19th February 2023 - 20th February 2024 at Sheffield Theatres
Book now22nd February 2024 at Lincoln Arts Centre
Book now23rd February 2024 - 25th February 2024 at Omnibus Theatre, Clapham
Book now27th February 2024 at Theatre Royal Bury St.Edmunds
Book now29th February 2024 - 2nd March 2024 at HOME, Manchester
Book nowLike Confirmation & Status, A Family Business is built around the idea of the real-world effects on individual and social decision-making of the cognitive biases and stories we carry unconsciously within us. Confirmation investigated this at the level of the individual, Status at the level of the national – A Family Business expands to look at what happens when those constructed stories of nationality have to communicate with each other at a global level and at the diplomats tasked with doing that.
Confirmation and Status both won Fringe First Awards at the Edinburgh Festival (2014 & 2018) and were both selected for the British Council Edinburgh Showcase (2015 & 2019). Between them Chris has completed 6 UK tours, 4 Edinburgh Festivals, 4 London runs and international tour dates including: Berlin, Mannheim, Mainz, New York, Vienna, Athens, Porto, Brisbane, Bucharest, Beirut, Nuremberg and Luxemburg.
This is the final show in a trilogy of plays examining the intersection between our individual humanity and our politics.
A critically acclaimed writer & performer; developing the final show in his trilogy with Rachel Chavkin.
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© Andreas J. Etter
© Andreas J. Etter
© Andreas J. Etter
Very few of us have lived in a world without nuclear weapons. If they continue to exist, we won't. That’s how this started.
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Confirmation attempts to have an honourable dialogue, real and imagined, with political extremism.
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