Sydney Theatre Company and Qantas present
Loot
by Joe Orton
Wild and anarchic, this hilarious black farce embodies the subversive spirit of swinging 1960’s London from which it originated.
Set on the day of Mrs McLeavy’s funeral, Loot follows her teenage son Hal and the sexually excitable undertaker Dennis as they attempt to stash the cash from their burglary of the bank next door.
When Dennis is visited by Truscott of Scotland Yard the boys realise the heat is on. Their only way out is to trust Mrs McLeavy’s nurse, Fay; an ostensibly devout Catholic who, for a sizable fee, will help them shift the hot cash. Mrs McLeavy has been cold for days now… why not use her coffin?
When it was first staged in 1966, Loot shocked audiences with its satirical criticism of the Catholic Church and religious hypocrisy. In the wake of the Church’s abuse scandals, the play’s power to shock may have diminished but its brilliance as a dramatic invention has not. Loot remains a potent criticism of police corruption, the façade of propriety and good old-fashioned scurrilousness.
DRAMA THEATRE, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Schools Day Wed 12 October
Pre-show Intro 10:30am, 45 minutes
Performance 12:15pm
Duration 2 Hours, including interval
Post-show Q&A immediately following, 15 minutes
Content Adult themes
Suits Years 9 - 12
Cost $21/student
Curriculum Links:
Drama - Black Comedy
Resources: Comprehensive student and teacher resources provided
