petercowlam plays

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hooley

Hooley runs a psychotherapy practice, if not with great success - he remains only one step ahead of his business creditors. In his personal life he fares little better, Hooley having mortgaged himself heavily in order to buy a rundown vicarage. At the play's opening, this is a property occupied by squatters, whom Hooley finds it almost impossible to evict (this is the sub-plot).

who’s afraid of the

booker prize?

The main plot centres on Pollock, one of Hooley's clients, and Hopkins, a religious fanatic.

Pollock and Hopkins are identical in appearance, with Pollock convinced that if he hasn't done so already, he will soon commit a murder. Hopkins believes that the cosmos is a struggle between good and evil. According to Hopkins, he himself is representative of good, while Pollock, his double, is representative of evil. Hopkins has given himself the task of eliminating this evil, and it is around this that the  comedy revolves, as a life-and-death struggle that Hooley and his PA, through no fault of their own, are drawn into. Both plot and sub-plot build to a tragicomic climax.

Marshall Zob, an award-winning novelist, is nevertheless on the point of desperation at not having won the Booker Prize. But at last, his latest novel, Gimme the Cash, has been nominated for that coveted prize.

Cornelius Snell, his agent and friend, is a man of dubious mastery. Snell operates on the principle that securing the prize involves a great deal of behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, though the kind of manoeuvres he adopts on his client’s behalf are not always the most honourable.

What is intended as his coup de grâce, and ultimate glory for Marshall Zob, seriously backfires, leaving him, his client and his agency hard put to salvage even a shred of public credibility.

‘...lovingly conceived and energetic.’

Nic Wass, Royal Court

script and licensing

Script and licensing are handled by New Theatre Publications. Click here for details.

Script and licensing are handled by Production Scripts. Click here for details.

script and licensing