I tried dying and it didn't work … I might as well try living.
Struggling actor David can't get enough—of anything. Alcohol, drugs, women, gambling—whatever it takes to escape the bark of the black dog. Bouncing from audition to audition as he battles his debilitating mental health issues and descends into a world of addiction, David is consumed by an overwhelming feeling of never belonging anywhere. Days and nights are lived through a thick haze of drugs and alcohol. This bender could be his last, but he doesn't care—there are worse things than death.
When David is thrown an unlikely lifeline and a final shot at redemption, he must find the strength to confront his inner demons and buried trauma. Breaking the Castle is based on true events in the life of playwright Peter Cook. It shines a spotlight on mental health and addiction in an exquisitely rendered and sometimes hilarious story of hope, belonging, and finding a way to be in this world.
'An incredibly powerful work that was a privilege to see' —Stage Whispers
'A work of empathy' —New Territory
PETER COOK graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2001. As an actor, his theatre credits include Cigarettes and Chocolate for Darlinghurst Theatre; Europe, The Removalists and The QLD Premiers Drama Awards for Queensland Theatre Company; The Eisteddfod, Breathing Corpses and The Chain Bridge for The Street, Canberra; Wet and Dry for NIDA; Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome for Queensland Theatre Company/Bell Shakespeare; Tender for Metro Arts, Brisbane; and Breaking The Castle for The Street, HotHouse Theatre, Riverside Theatres and QPAC. His TV credits include All Saints, Young Lions, Terra Nova, Redfern Now, The Gods of Wheat Street, Secrets and Lies, Old School, The Secret Daughter, Home and Away and Total Control. His feature film credits include Danny Deckchair, Down Under Mystery Tour and Beauty and the Beast. Peter has worked extensively in the field of theatre in education over the past ten years, writing work with young people across the country. Breaking The Castle is his debut as a playwright. He also wrote for the Dear Australia project run by PlayWriting Australia.
| Cast Info | 1M |
| Genres | Drama |
| Themes | Political/Social themes |
| Audiences | Adult |
| Extent | 60 |
| Edition | Standard |
| Size | 137 x 210 mm |
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