Gruesome Playground Injuries

Two 8-year-olds meet in the nurse’s office at their elementary school. Kayleen has a stomach ache, Doug has just ridden his bike off a roof. Over the next thirty years, a strange love story unfurls as two wounded people are drawn together, again and again, scars and all.

Pulitzer Prize nominated writer Rajiv Joseph’s work has been performed around the world, including Guard’s at the Taj (Orange Tree), King James (Hampstead), Bengal Tiger at Baghdad Zoo (Broadway). Gruesome Playground Injuries has been described as ‘mythically arresting’ (Variety), ‘unexpectedly and crazily watchable’ (The Guardian) and ‘Joseph’s most satisfying work’ (NY Post).

Award winning company Southern Magpie present the play’s first London revival since it’s premiere here 10 years ago, with a new take on this humorous and heart-breaking story about how hard it is to be vulnerable in a world filled with so much pain.

Praise for Southern Magpie:
Off West End Award Finalist 2021 - Best Movement
Off West End Award Nomination 2017 - Best Director
CRITICS CHOICE AWARD BEST SHOW 2017 - London Pub Theatres

***** londonpubtheatres ***** View from the Outside
***** Close Up Culture ***** thespyinthestalls

"passion, playfulness, tenderness and brutality all flicker between them like lightning sparks... Southern Magpie are clearly one to watch."
Islington Tribune

Content Warnings: Blood, self-harm, bodily injury.

CAST AND CREW

Doug - Seb Carrington
Kayleen - Katie Matsell

Writer - Rajiv Joseph
Director - Max Kirk
Designer - Tomás Palmer
Lighting Designer - Chris McDonnell
Sound Designer - Marie Zschommler
Stage Manager - Eleanor Albu
Associate Producer - Samantha Gruskin