Since her early break-through at the Royal Court Theatre in 1995, where
she won the George Devine award and was joint winner of the Verity
Bargate Award, Judy Upton has proven herself to be one of Britain's most
prolific and diverse writers. In this, her second collection, we see
work ranging from 1995 through to the 2000s and a collection of short
work created during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
Bruises (1995) Royal Court Theatre, London - *"*This is no angry
polemic but a subtly atmospheric piece ... Neither writer nor director
seeks easy answers in this coolly disturbing view of an issue usually
hammered home with both fists." (Evening Standard)
The Girlz (1998) Orange Tree, London - "Judy Upton's
ever-promising career takes another small leap forward with this
tantalising foray into characteristic Upton territory, the febrile world
of foul-mouthed, disadvantaged young females from the south-east."
(Time Out)
Sliding With Suzanne (2001) Royal Court Theatre, London - "Judy
Upton probably won't thank me for saying so, but her new play, Sliding
with Suzanne, comes over as that rarest of phenomena - a contemporary
play with a Right-wing agenda. If Margaret Thatcher went to see it she
would be appalled by the language and much of the action but would, I
suspect, end up applauding its sentiments." (Telegraph)
Gaby Goes Global (2009) New Wimbledon Theatre, London - A wry and
mischievous look at the benefits system, and the world of fine art. Gaby
is a downtrodden employment advisor at the Benefit Delivery Centre. She
tries to get rich by promoting the struggling artists who sign on. But
it is Gaby who grabs all the attention - with the sort of exposure she
hadn't bargained for...
Lockdown Tales (2020) - "a story of struggle, hope, even more
struggle and then hope which provides a sensitive and sincere insight
into the mind of a key worker during lockdown ... a must watch and is
the epitome of the type of work that should be produced during
lockdown." (A Younger Theatre)
