August Strindberg was a highly sensitive extremist living in a time of radical transformation. Initially part of an early feminist emancipation movement at the end of the 19th century, later a paranoid reactionary, in The Father he provides a seismographic record of what a patriarchal world in upheaval means. Nicolas Stemann examines the idea of modern-day men as the threatened, dangerous sex: they are on the rampage against others and themselves – even the vast majority of suicides are committed by men. Strindberg is the author providing a voice for these men and their desperate bid to “take back control”.
*** Content warning: This production contains depictions of sexualised violence and sexism and addresses the issues of suicide and mental health. ***
