Incarcerator
Incarcerator was first performed at The White Bear Theatre, London on 6 September 1999. The cast was as follows:
CHORUS, Andy Hawthorne
MORRIS, David Hollett
JESSOP, John Lightbody
LIDDLE, Ben Casey
SMITH, Pauline Turner
FISHER, Lisa Reeves
Director, Peter Craze
Designer, Philippa Kunisch
Lighting, Mark Dymock
Sound, Derek Carlyle
Assistant Director, Hajdana Baletic
It subsequently opened at the Battersea Arts Centre, London on 16 January 2001, with the following changes to the cast:
CHORUS, Peter Kenvyn
LIDDLE, Nigel Barrett
SMITH, Sarah Edwardson
Designer, Mavis Howard
Composer, David Schweitzer
Assistant Director, Yael Shavit
A 'TIME OUT' CRITICS CHOICE
Critics Choice...the best of the Fringe...so enjoyable...the star attraction here is Betts' verse dialogue...the cast relish (his) linguistic flair... This is an eye-catching revival of a black-hearted tragicomedy.
TIME OUT
...packs a punch that leaves you staggering...savage and hilariously funny... a delight to watch...
LONDON METRO, *****rating
...blistering...Betts is prodding around in our intestines and translating what he finds into taut, explosive verse...muscular poetry... Betts is an immensely promising talent destined for great things.
WHAT'S ON IN LONDON
...a full-bloodied verse drama...Betts's verse is fast and funny...hilariously grotesque...
THE TIMES
Betts has a finely-tuned ear for contemporary hypocrisy and a nice line in sardonic wit.
INDEPENDENT
...linguistically bold...Someone's bound to hail him as the new Berkoff...
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
...a well-justified revival...sharply humorous...wickedly funny...Big, bold and ambitious...imaginative and extremely clever...intriguing...great entertainment...a bright new play...
Betts is a writer to watch....
THE STAGE
I emerged after three hours of cartoon savagery feeling punch-drunk... a bloodbath straight out of Jacobean tragedy...
MICHAEL BILLINGTON, THE GUARDIAN
... messy, generous, explosive, sawing on the gut and a feast for actors...
PLAYS & PLAYERS
...explosive...hilarious...dangerous... a powerful production...
SOUTH LONDON PRESS
...Incarcerator is a must...wry tragedy is a play to revel in...the house applauded with vigour...
WANDSWORTH BOROUGH NEWS
...a bold, prolific, inventive playwright with a gift for dialogue...
FLAVOURPILL LONDON