PEN International, Empire Street Productions and Acclaimed Writers Sonmez, Arshi, Martel, and Okri join Forces for Martin McDonagh’s Award-Winning Play the Pillowman

PEN International and Empire Street Productions are proud to announce their partnership in support of The Pillowman, an upcoming play starring actress and singer Lily Allen about a fiction writer - living in a police state- who is persecuted by the authorities for her critical writing. Produced by Empire Street Productions, an independent, London based production company, The Pillowman speaks to the core of PEN’s values, and shines a light on where art and politics intersect.

Burhan Sonmez, acclaimed writer and President of PEN International said: ‘This captivating play examines the role of the writer in society and reflects on the price paid for exercising the right we all have, to freedom of expression. At PEN, we are proud to be working with this production of The Pillowman, and participate in this ambitious project that supports many of the values we promote such as the need for tolerance, critical thinking and informed debate.’

Yann Martel, internationally renowned author of Life of Pi and a member of PEN International’s Writers Circle said: ‘Theatre has the power to change things for the better, and with this exciting partnership between PEN International and the new production of The Pillowman, the light will shine more brightly on the freedoms essential to writers and artists around the world.’

Acclaimed author and also a member of PEN International’s Writer’s Circle, Ben Okri, added: ‘How governments handle dissenting voices is often a measurement of how they handle human freedoms at large. This partnership honours all writers and artists silenced for simply expressing their views peacefully, and sends a powerful message in their support, everywhere – at a time when freedom of expression is increasingly under threat.’

Throughout the production, the collaboration, sees a series of activities featuring the participation of award-winning writers: PEN International President Burhan Sonmez, as well as PEN’s friends and supporters Mona Arshi, Yann Martel and Ben Okri, among others. These include three post-show Q&As and essays about the role of the writer in contemporary times, resonating and compounding the themes of the play – as well as PEN’s guiding principles and work- on freedom of expression and imagination, and on how writers have often been looked upon to critically engage in what makes us human.

With an all-star cast including Lily Allen and Steve Pemberton, Matthew Dunster directs the first major revival of Martin McDonagh’s Olivier award-winning play at the intimate Duke of York Theatre in London.

Performances begin on Saturday 10 June, for a strictly limited 12-week run through to Saturday 2 September 2023 (Press Night: Wednesday 21 June). For more information and ticket sales, visit www.pillowmanplay.com

Notes to editors

·       For further information, please contact: Sabrina Tucci, PEN International Communications and Campaigns Manager, Sabrina.Tucci@pen-international.org, Twitter: @pen_int | Facebook