Caryl Churchill’s play begins in Victorian-era Africa, where colonial administrator Clive presides over a household shaped by rigid expectations of gender, race, and social hierarchy. His wife, son, and servant each struggle to conform to the roles imposed upon them within the structures of empire and patriarchy.

The story then shifts a century later to 1970s London, where the same characters confront a different social landscape marked by changing attitudes toward sexuality, identity, and freedom. As past and present intersect, the play examines the enduring influence of colonialism and the ways personal identity is shaped by power and social convention.

This production is directed by Dominic Cooke.