The Children, direct from an acclaimed run in London, the powerful Royal Court Theatre production of Lucy Kirkwood’s astonishing new play will make its American debut at MTC with the heralded original cast.

In a remote cottage on the lonely British coast, a couple of retired nuclear engineers are living a very quiet life. Outside, the world is in utter chaos following a devastating series of events. When an old friend turns up at their door, they’re shocked to discover the real reason for her visit.

The Mail on Sunday calls The Children “beautifully written and superbly acted.” Hailed by The Independent as “the most rewarding dramatist of her generation,” playwright Lucy Kirkwood makes her highly anticipated New York debut. Directing is the award-winning James Macdonald (Top Girls at MTC).

Playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s vivid, thought-provoking West End hit The Children has also made a big impact in New York. Now playing on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club with the original British cast of brilliant theater veterans that includes Francesca Annis, Ron Cook and Deborah Findlay, the play is deeply rooted in character and relationship, unfolds in layers and leads the audience to an unexpected riveting end. Back at home in England, now that the New York production of The Children has opened to rave reviews, Ms. Kirkwood graciously agreed to speak with me via phone; a brief yet rich conversation ensued. What prompted you to write The Children? Was there a catalyst or an inspiration for this play? I’d been trying to find a way to write about climate change for a very long time, struggling to find a form or a story or dramatic situation through which to talk about that. Then an event similar to the one depicted in the play happened in Fukushima in 2013. I found that to be a horrendous event, but when I heard that there was a retired nuclear task force going back to help clear it up, I found that sort of lit a little fire in my brain and that meant that the rest of the play cam …Read more