The Priory is a play by Michael Wynne

Michael Wynne (playwright)

Michael Wynne is a playwright born in Birkenhead on 3 August 1972.Whilst reading a Politics degree in London, he entered a competition for new, young writers by The Royal Court Theatre....

 that opened at the downstairs theatre of the Royal Court Theatre

Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...

 in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 in 2009. The production starred Jessica Hynes, Rupert Penry-Jones

Rupert Penry-Jones

Rupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...

, Charlotte Riley

Charlotte Riley

Charlotte Riley is an English actress. She is best known for her role Sarah Hurst in Easy Virtue and as Catherine Earnshaw in ITV's adaptation of Wuthering Heights.-Personal life:...

, Alastair Mackenzie

Alastair Mackenzie

Alastair Mackenzie is a Scottish actor. He was born in 1970 in Trinafour, near Perth and educated at Westbourne House School and Glenalmond College in Perthshire.Mackenzie left home at the age of 18 and moved to London...

, Joseph Millson

Joseph Millson

Joseph Millson is an English actor and singer. He trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in Sidcup.-Theatre:* The Lifted Veil at the National * Pillars of the Community at the National...

 and Rachael Stirling

Rachael Stirling

Rachael Atlanta Stirling is an English stage, film and television actress. She is a two-time Olivier nominee for her stage work, but is best known for her performance as Nancy Astley in the BBC drama Tipping the Velvet.-Personal life:...

. After receiving good reviews, its run was extended. Michael Wynne won the Olivier Award for 'Best New Comedy' for "The Priory". Stirling was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her role as Rebecca.

Synopsis

Following her split from her boyfriend, Kate decides to invite a group of her closest friends to a renovated and supposedly haunted priory, for a New Year's Eve party. However, as the drinks and drugs start to flow, personal revelations begin to emerge leading to near tragedy and a fraught morning after.

Characters

• Kate: a budding author who has suffered personal tragedy throughout the previous year and is looking forward to a better one.
• Daniel: a gay architect who surfs the internet looking for love.
• Carl: a "resting" actor, best known for a coffee commercial, now happily working in a garden centre and Kate's college boyfriend.
• Rebecca: Carl's BAFTA award winning wife and obsessive mother of his two small children.
• Ben: an award winning travel writer.
• Laura: a counter girl at Harvey Nichols
  Harvey Nichols
  Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
  
   and Ben's fiancé of one day, the pair having met the night before.

Original production

The premiere of the play was at the Royal Court Theatre

Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...

 in London. It was directed by Jeremy Herrin

Jeremy Herrin

Jeremy Herrin is an English theatre director and currently the Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre in London. He trained as a theatre director at both the Royal Court and the National Theatre...

 and starred Jessica Hynes as Kate, Joseph Millson

Joseph Millson

Joseph Millson is an English actor and singer. He trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in Sidcup.-Theatre:* The Lifted Veil at the National * Pillars of the Community at the National...

 as Daniel, Rupert Penry-Jones

Rupert Penry-Jones

Rupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...

 as Carl, Rachael Stirling

Rachael Stirling

Rachael Atlanta Stirling is an English stage, film and television actress. She is a two-time Olivier nominee for her stage work, but is best known for her performance as Nancy Astley in the BBC drama Tipping the Velvet.-Personal life:...

 as Rebecca, Alastair Mackenzie

Alastair Mackenzie

Alastair Mackenzie is a Scottish actor. He was born in 1970 in Trinafour, near Perth and educated at Westbourne House School and Glenalmond College in Perthshire.Mackenzie left home at the age of 18 and moved to London...

 as Ben and Charlotte Riley

Charlotte Riley

Charlotte Riley is an English actress. She is best known for her role Sarah Hurst in Easy Virtue and as Catherine Earnshaw in ITV's adaptation of Wuthering Heights.-Personal life:...

as Laura.

"...Wynnes sharp, funny writing and Jeremy Herrins exceptionally well acted production ensure total authenticity so that by the end the play feels positively radical in this main stage bastion of the cutting edge... His (Michael Wynne's) control of situation and character is impressively mature..." - Michael Coveney WHATS ON STAGE

"...It is a perceptive piece, laced with Wynne’s customary wit and insight. And it has serious points to make about success, failure, peer pressure and loneliness..." - Sarah Hemming FINANCIAL TIMES