Hysteria
Hysteria
Terry Johnson
1938. Hampstead, London. Sigmund Freud has fled Nazi-occupied Austria and settled in leafy Swiss Cottage. At eighty-two-years-old, he aims to spend his final days in peace. However, when Salvador Dalí turns up to discover a less-than-fully dressed woman in the closet, peace becomes somewhat elusive…
An acknowledged modern classic, Terry Johnson’s hilarious farce explores the fall-out when two of the twentieth century’s most brilliant and original minds collide. It touches on many themes including Nazi Germany, the Surrealist movement, Judaism, Freud’s theories of the unconscious mind, family relationships, life and death, and love and loss.
Johnson’s celebrated play raises intriguing questions about Freud’s radical revision of his theories of hysteria. “Hysteria” premiered on 1 August 1993 at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs, directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
Available
1993
978-0-413-70360-6
Drama
Methuen Publishing
Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson’s work as a playwright includes a version of Edward Ravenscroft’s “The London Cuckolds”, produced at the Royal National Theatre; “Dead Funny”, which opened at the Hampstead Theatre and enjoyed two successful West End runs at the Vaudeville and Savoy Theatres; and “Hysteria”, produced at the Duke of York’s theatre as part of the Royal Court Classic season.
His earlier plays includes “Anabel” and “Unsuitable for Adults” at the Bush, “Imagine Drowning” at Hampstead, and “Cries from the Mammal House” at the Royal Court.
His work has been performed all over Great Britain, in major US cities, Australia, Europe, Israel, Ireland and Canada. He is the recipient of some major British Theatre Awards including Playwright of the Year 1995; Critics’ Circle Best New Play 1995; Writers’ Guild Best West End Play 1995; Olivier Award Best Comedy 1994; the Mayer-Whitworth Award 1993 and the John Whiting Award 1991.
He has directed new work at the Royal Court, Bristol Old Vic, Soho Poly and Hampstead Theatre. In 1996 he directed the American premiere of Stephen Jeffreys’s “The Libertine” for Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. His “Piano/Forte” premiered at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs in 2006.
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