Punk Rock

A Student Edition of Simon Stephens's remarkable 2009 play, Punk Rock.

Everything human beings do finishes up bad in the end. Everything good human beings ever make is built on something monstrous. Nothing lasts. We certainly won't . . . William Carlisle has the world at his feet, but its weight on his shoulders. He is intelligent, articulate and f***ed. In the library of a grammar school, William and his fellow sixth-formers are preparing for their mock A-Levels while navigating the pressures of teenage life. They are educated and aspirational young people, but step-by-step, the dislocation, disjunction and latent aggression is revealed. Punk Rock premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith on 3 September 2009 in a co-production between Lyric Hammersmith and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. It is published here as a Student Edition featuring commentary and notes by Catherine Love. The ancillary material is geared at students and considers: - an introduction outlining the play's plot, character, themes, context and performance history - the full text of the play - a chronology of the playwright's life and work - a detailed introductory analysis - extensive textual notes - questions for further study Methuen Drama Student Editions are expertly annotated texts of a wide range of plays from the modern and classic repertoires. This play includes some strong language and violent scenes.