Two retired nuclear scientists in an isolated cottage by the sea as the world around them crumbles.

Together they are going to live forever on yogurt and yoga, until an old friend arrives with a frightening request.

“Do you want to call your children?”

“Why?”

“To let them know your plans.”

Directed by James Macdonald.

Lucy Kirkwood‘s previous work for the Royal Court includes NSFW. Other credits include Beauty and the Beast co-devised with Katie Mitchell (National Theatre), Small Hours, co-written with Ed Hime (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs), Tinderbox (Bush Theatre), Hedda (Gate Theatre), Psychogeography (Bush Theatre) and it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now, produced by Clean Break at the Arcola Theatre, which was nominated for an Evening Standard Award Best Newcomer award, the Susan Smith Blackburn award, and made Lucy joint winner of the John Whiting Award 2010.

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COMPETITION: Win 1x pair of tickets to attend Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children at Royal Court Theatre on Thursday 17th November at 19:30. To enter the competition, send an email to ava@run-riot.com with the correct answer in the ‘subject’ line. The winner will be randomly selected.

Q: Lucy Kirkwood’s 2013 play Chimerica won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and an Evening Standard Award for Best Play. But what are the two words behind the play’s portmanteau title?

A: .1) Chicago and Siberia .2) China and India .3) China and America .4) California and Mexico