Double the Laughs: Durham Students Bring White Liars and Black Comedy to Life
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Students at Durham University are putting on Peter Shaffer’s famous farcical double act, White Liars and Black Comedy, from 23rd-25th January in the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham.

Known for the more serious plays Equus and Armadeus, Shaffer’s comedy work is an underrated gem. Black Comedy, first performed with stars like Derek Jacobi, Maggie Smith, and Albert Finney, was once termed one of the funniest plays of the 20th century. White Liars approaches darker themes in just as a comical way, following a fortune teller and two customers who accidentally uncover an increasingly complex web of lies they have been trying to hide.

“This is such an exciting project,”

“The emphasis when directing had to be on finding the hilarity in every single moment.”

director Ben Cawood, a fourth year student at Durham University

Black Comedy is marked by a reversal of lighting. The play begins in pitch darkness where the audience can only hear the characters pottering around on stage. A power cut plunges the characters into darkness, and only then can the audience see them. Hilarity follows as Brindsley Miller and Carol Melkett are joined by their eccentric and frivolous neighbours, each making the situation worse and worse for them.

“We spent many hours in rehearsals finding extra actions that could take place in the dark – characters falling over, running into things, colliding with other characters. The cast must be commended for their efforts, always giving their all and learning to act “in the dark” – which is much more difficult than you think!”

Mr Cawood

White Liars has a similar amount of technical innovation, with one character speaking entirely through an off-stage mic. The play is often referred to as Shaffer’s “lost” production, but Mr Cawood thinks that its potential is still revealing itself.

“My aim was to find those darker moments within the humour of the situation,”

“[White Liars] is totally bizarre and deserves more recognition of the expert way in which Shaffer crafted it.”

Mr Cawood

Durham University is home to 30 theatre companies who produce almost a hundred productions each year. The vibrant theatrical community is a treasure trove of high quality actors and crew, whilst also unleashing the talent of students who are joining theatre for the first time.

White Liars and Black Comedy is showing in the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham, from 23rd to 25th January at 7:30pm. Tickets can be bought here: https://www.durhamstudenttheatre.org/whats-on/white-liars-and-black-comedy


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