Five insomniacs try to make it through the night. From dusk to dawn, they struggle with a crisis in their lives which they must resolve by morning. Increasingly conscious of their shortening futures and lengthening pasts, they fill their nights with distracting activities, desperate sleep techniques, evaluations of their lives, delusions, fears, panics and utter foolishness as they prepare to face the day. Five Characters in Search of a Good Night's Sleep was first performed by ViSiBLE Theatre Ensemble at Southwark Playhouse, London, in 2022, in a production directed by Mike Alfreds. It was devised and written by Mike Alfreds with Sonja Linden and members of the company. ViSiBLE is a theatre company dedicated to creating performance work that throws fresh perspectives on later life and living longer. A key aspect of its identity is creating work collaboratively, drawing on the creativity and talent of Britain's huge wealth of experienced older actors.
"'Alison Carr's writing blisters on impact... it is as unflinchingly open about its discussion of depression, motherhood and family relationships, as it is funny and symbolic'"
A Younger Theatre
"'Alison Carr's ear for natural, funny dialogue distinguishes it from the outset'"
The Stage
"'Carr's writing has much to commend it - not least its boldness in taking on contemporary issues head on'"
