Des Kennedy is the winner of Out of Joint’s Directing Award, created to support an up-and-coming director interested in new theatre writing.
“I first encountered Catherine Trieschmann when I was assistant director to Mike Bradwell at the Bush, working on Catherine’s play Crooked – a teenage love story about born again Christian Lesbians. The writing was funny, intelligent and pure, and her characters were oddballs but with a thick vein of humanity.
“How the World Began reminded me of American classics like Inherit the Wind and The Catcher in the Rye, but it also casts light on the tension between religion and secular liberalism here in the UK. Should schoolchildren be forced to engage in worship? Do Christian B&B owners have the right to turn away gay couples? Can public servants display religious iconography on their person?
“I’m from Northern Ireland, a place where the Minister for Culture believes that the Universe is 6000 years old and wants the Ulster museum to have a section dedicated to teaching creationism, so the play really struck a cord. Out of Joint are committed to fearless new writing and I am delighted that they are supporting this provocative, moving and intelligent play.”
Des Kennedy, Director
Winner of Out of Joint’s Directing Award