Silence (1969 play)
Silence is a short play by Harold Pinter first performed in 1969.
Production
The première was given by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London on 2 July 1969, directed by Peter Hall.The cast was:
- Ellen – Frances Cuka
- Rumsey – Anthony Bate
- Bates – Norman Rodway.
Background
In the introduction to the first volume of his Complete Plays, Pinter wrote:There are two silences. One when no word is spoken. The other when perhaps a torrent of language is being employed. This speech is speaking of a language locked beneath it. That is its continual reference. The speech we hear is an indication of that which we don't hear. It is a necessary avoidance, a violent, sly, anguished or mocking smoke screen which keeps the other in its place. When true silence falls we are still left with echo but are nearer nakedness. One way of looking at speech is to say that it is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness.
In 1977 a musical setting of the play, composed by Michael Mantler, was released as a vinyl record. The main roles were sung by Kevin Coyne, Robert Wyatt and Carla Bley.