Love and Money is a little known play from 2006, an early work by Dennis Kelly, the London Irish television writer who would go on to create controversial British television series Pulling & Utopia. The play debuted at the Manchester Royal Exchange, before moving to the Young Vic. It was recently staged in Dublin by the La Touche Players, in a production directed by James O’Connor. The play has been called variously ‘one of the best new plays of the year’ and ‘beyond doubt the most self indulgent drivel I’ve ever reviewed’.

Our protagonists David & Jess, live their lives backwards, moving from horrific conclusion to existential conundrum – by way of addictive shopping and sexual harassment. Thematically, Love and Money is a contemporary piece – concerned with the impact of debt and the crushing phenomenology of the bureaucracy on families and marriages. Tonally it’s a pitch black comedy, with aspirations to social criticism. We take two hours to explore this timely piece of modern theatre.

Download: Episode 16 – Love & Money

‘Reading Plays‘ is a discussion show, featuring Gareth Stack and James Van De Waal. Each week we do a close reading of a modern play, discussing it’s merits, themes, issues raised, and so on. You can play along by reading or watching a production of the play before you listen to the show.

Music – Amor & Psyche – by Bitwise Operator.

Image – Rude Guerrilla Theatre Company production 2009.