All Aboard the Ghost Train: An Exploration of Philip Ridley's Play, The Pitchfork Disney

This talk will explore the process of staging Philip Ridley’s dark, nightmarish play, “The Pitchfork Disney.” This production is Alexander Burnett’s senior thesis work in acting and Kristin Corbett’s independent work... [ view full abstract ]

This talk will explore the process of staging Philip Ridley’s dark, nightmarish play, “The Pitchfork Disney.” This production is Alexander Burnett’s senior thesis work in acting and Kristin Corbett’s independent work in directing. The play will be performed in the Hepburn Zoo April 14-16. “The Pitchfork Disney” tells the story of adult twins Haley and Presley, whose parents mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago and who have since holed themselves away from the world, spending their days sleeping, eating chocolate, and medicating themselves. Their isolated existence is disturbed by the introduction of a strange showman in their home. This surreal piece has been called one of the most important plays of the 1990s and marked the development of “in-yer-face” theatre in the UK. This talk will explore some key themes in the play and examine its impact on the theatrical world.