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{{Short description|1996 play by English playwright Mark Ravenhill}}
{{italic title}}
{{About||the genre of novel|bonkbuster}}
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{{inline|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
⚫
'''''Shopping and Fucking''''' (sometimes billed as ''Shopping and F**king'') is a 1996 play by [[English people|English]] [[playwright]] [[Mark Ravenhill]]. It was Ravenhill's first full-length play. It received its first public reading at the [[Finborough Theatre]], [[London]], in 1995. It was performed in 1996 at the Royal Court Upstairs (located temporarily at the [[Ambassadors Theatre (London)|Ambassadors Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]), before embarking on a national and international tour, co-produced by [[Out of Joint theatre company|Out of Joint]] and the [[Royal Court Theatre]].
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{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox play
| name = Shopping and Fucking
| image =
| caption =
| writer = [[Mark Ravenhill]]
| chorus =
| characters = Lulu<br />Robbie<br />Mark<br />Gary<br />Brian
| mute =
| setting =
| date of premiere = 26 September 1996
| place = [[Royal Court Theatre]] Upstairs, London
| original language = [[English language|English]]
| series =
| subject =
| genre = [[In-yer-face theatre]]
| web =
}}
⚫
'''''Shopping and Fucking''''' (sometimes billed as ''Shopping and F**king'') is a 1996 play by British [[playwright]] [[Mark Ravenhill]]. It was Ravenhill's first full-length play. It received its first public reading at the [[Finborough Theatre]], [[London]], in 1995. It was performed in 1996 at the Royal Court Upstairs (located temporarily at the [[Ambassadors Theatre (London)|Ambassadors Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]), before embarking on a national and international tour, co-produced by [[Out of Joint theatre company|Out of Joint]] and the [[Royal Court Theatre]].


When first produced, ''Shopping and Fucking'' received mixed reviews. Some were shocked by the play's sexually violent content, which includes the pseudo-rape of an underage male by other males. Other critics were drawn to the play's [[Black Comedy|black humour]], and its mixture of [[Marquis de Sade|Sadean]] and [[Marxism|Marxist]] philosophies. Along with [[Sarah Kane]]'s ''[[Blasted]]'', it was a prime exemplar of British [[in-yer-face theatre]] of the 1990s.
When first produced, ''Shopping and Fucking'' received mixed reviews. Some were shocked by the play's sexually violent content, which includes the pseudo-rape of an underage male by other males. Other critics were drawn to the play's [[Black Comedy|black humour]], and its mixture of [[Marquis de Sade|Sadean]] and [[Marxism|Marxist]] philosophies. Along with [[Sarah Kane]]'s ''[[Blasted]]'', it was a prime exemplar of British [[in-yer-face theatre]] of the 1990s.
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The sexual violence of ''Shopping and Fucking'' explores what is possible if [[consumerism]] supersedes all other moral codes. To this effect everything, including sex, violence and drugs, is reduced to a mere transaction in an age where shopping centres are the new cathedrals of Western consumerism.
The sexual violence of ''Shopping and Fucking'' explores what is possible if [[consumerism]] supersedes all other moral codes. To this effect everything, including sex, violence and drugs, is reduced to a mere transaction in an age where shopping centres are the new cathedrals of Western consumerism.


Aspects of [[consumerism]] and sexuality rampant in popular culture recur throughout the play: [[drugs]], [[shoplifting]], [[phone sex]], [[prostitution]], [[anal sex]], and [[oral sex]] in the London department store [[Harvey Nichols]].
Aspects of [[consumerism]] and sexuality rampant in popular culture recur throughout the play: [[drugs]], [[shoplifting]], [[phone sex]], [[prostitution]], [[anal sex]] and [[oral sex]] in the London department store [[Harvey Nichols]].


The characters' names (Mark, Robbie and Gary) are taken from the [[Manchester]], [[England]] boy band [[Take That]], and from the singer [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]] who collaborated with them on their hit single ''[[Relight My Fire]]''.
The characters' names (Mark, Robbie and Gary) are taken from the [[Manchester]] boy band [[Take That]], and from the singer [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]] who collaborated with them on their hit single ''[[Relight My Fire]]''.


==Theatrical productions==
==Theatrical productions==
⚫
* '''20/21 May 2013''' - The Victoria, Swindon. Directed by Peter Hynds and Sarah Lewis. Produced by TS Theatre Productions. This production starred Ella Thomas as Lulu, David Paris Malham as Robbie, Pete Hynds as Mark, David John Phillips as Gary and Howard Trigg as Brian.


* Beginning 4 February 1998 International Tour<ref name="Shopping and Fucking">{{cite web| url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001637/19980115/142/0043| title=Shopping and Fucking at The Cambridge Arts Theatre |website=The British Newspaper Archive | date=15 January 1998 |accessdate=27 December 2018 }}</ref> – starring Ashley Artus, Stephen Beresford, Charlie Condou, Karina Fernandez and Ian Redford.
2016 - Lyric Hammersmith
* 2 February 1998 – 17 March 1998 – [[New York Theatre Workshop]]. Directed by Gemma Bodinetz and [[Max Stafford-Clark]]. [[Torquil Campbell]] as Gary, [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]] as Mark, [[Jennifer Dundas|Jennifer Dundas Lowe]] as Lulu, [[Matthew Sussman]] as Brian and [[Justin Theroux]] as Robbie.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shopping and Fucking |url=https://www.nytw.org/show/shopping-and-fucking/ |publisher=New York Theatre Workshop |accessdate=9 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hischak |first1=Thomas S. |title=American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1969–2000 |date=8 February 2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=416 |isbn=978-0-19-535255-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1aSM__nVScAC |accessdate=9 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brantley |first1=Ben |title=THEATER REVIEW; A Shocker That Aims To Preach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/03/theater/theater-review-a-shocker-that-aims-to-preach.html |accessdate=9 December 2018 |work=New York Times |date=3 February 1998}}</ref>
⚫
* 20–21 May 2013 – The Victoria, Swindon. Directed by Peter Hynds and Sarah Lewis. Produced by TS Theatre Productions. This production starred [[Ella Thomas]] as Lulu, David Paris Malham as Robbie, Pete Hynds as Mark, David John Phillips as Gary and Howard Trigg as Brian.
* 7 October-5 November 2016 – Lyric Hammersmith. Directed by Sean Holmes. Alphabetically, this production starred Alex Arnold as Robbie, [[Ashley McGuire]] as Brian, David Moorst as Gary, [[Sam Spruell]] as Mark and [[Sophie Wu]] as Lulu.
* 20–25 April 2021 – MC Showroom, Melbourne, Australia. Directed by Tyrone Cross. Starring Sid Bobbin as Gary, Riley Nottingham as Mark, Rosie Ochtman as Lulu, Mith Saseetharan as Brian, Carter Smith as Robbie.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.outofjoint.co.uk/prods/s_and_f.html Archived production: Shopping and Fucking] at Out of Joint.
*[http://www.outofjoint.co.uk/prods/s_and_f.html Archived production: Shopping and Fucking] at Out of Joint.
*[http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/ravenhill10/ Ravenhill 10]. The [[Harold Pinter|Pinter]] Centre for Performance and Creative Writing. [[Goldsmith's College]], [[University of London]]. November 11-November 12, 2006. (Symposium marking the 10th anniversary of the first production of ''Shopping and Fucking''.)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090721062249/http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/ravenhill10/ Ravenhill 10]. The [[Harold Pinter|Pinter]] Centre for Performance and Creative Writing. [[Goldsmiths College]], [[University of London]]. November 11–12, 2006. (Symposium marking the 10th anniversary of the first production of ''Shopping and Fucking''.)
*{{YouTube|mpo3LUj8AhQ|TS Theatre productions version}}
*{{YouTube|mpo3LUj8AhQ|TS Theatre productions version}}


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[[Category:Plays by Mark Ravenhill]]
[[Category:Plays by Mark Ravenhill]]
[[Category:Plays set in London]]
[[Category:Plays set in London]]
[[Category:Works about drugs]]
[[Category:Plays about British prostitution]]
[[Category:Works about prostitution]]
[[Category:Theatre about drugs]]

Latest revision as of 08:42, 30 April 2024

For the genre of novel, see bonkbuster.

Shopping and Fucking
Written byMark Ravenhill
CharactersLulu
Robbie
Mark
Gary
Brian
Date premiered26 September 1996
Place premieredRoyal Court Theatre Upstairs, London
Original languageEnglish
GenreIn-yer-face theatre

Shopping and Fucking (sometimes billed as Shopping and F**king) is a 1996 play by British playwright Mark Ravenhill. It was Ravenhill's first full-length play. It received its first public reading at the Finborough Theatre, London, in 1995. It was performed in 1996 at the Royal Court Upstairs (located temporarily at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End), before embarking on a national and international tour, co-produced by Out of Joint and the Royal Court Theatre.

When first produced, Shopping and Fucking received mixed reviews. Some were shocked by the play's sexually violent content, which includes the pseudo-rape of an underage male by other males. Other critics were drawn to the play's black humour, and its mixture of Sadean and Marxist philosophies. Along with Sarah Kane's Blasted, it was a prime exemplar of British in-yer-face theatre of the 1990s.

Central themes

[edit]

The sexual violence of Shopping and Fucking explores what is possible if consumerism supersedes all other moral codes. To this effect everything, including sex, violence and drugs, is reduced to a mere transaction in an age where shopping centres are the new cathedrals of Western consumerism.

Aspects of consumerism and sexuality rampant in popular culture recur throughout the play: drugs, shoplifting, phone sex, prostitution, anal sex and oral sex in the London department store Harvey Nichols.

The characters' names (Mark, Robbie and Gary) are taken from the Manchester boy band Take That, and from the singer Lulu who collaborated with them on their hit single Relight My Fire.

Theatrical productions

[edit]
  • Beginning 4 February 1998 International Tour[1] – starring Ashley Artus, Stephen Beresford, Charlie Condou, Karina Fernandez and Ian Redford.
  • 2 February 1998 – 17 March 1998 – New York Theatre Workshop. Directed by Gemma Bodinetz and Max Stafford-Clark. Torquil Campbell as Gary, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mark, Jennifer Dundas Lowe as Lulu, Matthew Sussman as Brian and Justin Theroux as Robbie.[2][3][4]
  • 20–21 May 2013 – The Victoria, Swindon. Directed by Peter Hynds and Sarah Lewis. Produced by TS Theatre Productions. This production starred Ella Thomas as Lulu, David Paris Malham as Robbie, Pete Hynds as Mark, David John Phillips as Gary and Howard Trigg as Brian.
  • 7 October-5 November 2016 – Lyric Hammersmith. Directed by Sean Holmes. Alphabetically, this production starred Alex Arnold as Robbie, Ashley McGuire as Brian, David Moorst as Gary, Sam Spruell as Mark and Sophie Wu as Lulu.
  • 20–25 April 2021 – MC Showroom, Melbourne, Australia. Directed by Tyrone Cross. Starring Sid Bobbin as Gary, Riley Nottingham as Mark, Rosie Ochtman as Lulu, Mith Saseetharan as Brian, Carter Smith as Robbie.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Shopping and Fucking at The Cambridge Arts Theatre". The British Newspaper Archive. 15 January 1998. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Shopping and Fucking". New York Theatre Workshop. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  3. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (8 February 2001). American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1969–2000. Oxford University Press. p. 416. ISBN 978-0-19-535255-9. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  4. ^ Brantley, Ben (3 February 1998). "THEATER REVIEW; A Shocker That Aims To Preach". New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
[edit]
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