An absurdist drama capturing the violence of survival
What was life like in 50,000 BC? This is what Jack Nicholls imagines in his debut play The Shitheads. Discovered through the Royal Court’s Open Submissions scheme, this play honours the 70-year history of the Royal Court Theatre in supporting new writing.
Following the lives of a family of cave people, Nicholls imagines the original divide, between the people who migrate and those who stay put. Believing themselves to be ‘magic’ and the migrators to be ‘shitheads’, the family survive not just by killing elk, but also murdering people and eating their brains.
It’s a grisly play from start to finish, with graphic depictions of animal cruelty and slaughter and general violence, aided by highly realistic effects. The language of Nicholls contrasts sharply with the primal action, with his background of poetry heavily influencing the flowery script.
The intense onstage action can border on unbearable, relying heavily on shock factor and the commitment of a powerhouse cast led by Jacoba Williams as head of the household. Directed by David Byrne and Aneesha Srinivasan, this team doesn’t shy away from the weirder elements of the script, directing the ensemble to total emotional investment to the absurd situations they find themselves in.
The inclusion of incredible puppets by Finn Caldwell elevates this production to the highest level. Incredibly lifelike and beautifully manoeuvred, the puppets steal every scene. Helmed by the exceptional puppetry captain Scarlet Wilderink, the puppetry team extends beyond movement, with realistic sound effects and facial expressions to match every moment they’re onstage.
Staged in the intimate Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, designer Anna Reid makes full use of the space. Creating a functional yet realistic looking cave with hidden trapdoors, Reid effectively denotes the ‘safe’ indoors and the ‘dangerous’ outdoors, with ever changing weather necessitating constant mass migration to avoid freezing to death.
Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in live theatre, this out-there production is totally unique. Representing exactly what Royal Court Theatre stands for, this is the second production in an innovative season, running until March 14, 2026.