Skylight
David Hare
A deeply personal three-character drama that centers on a single evening's reunion between two former lovers. Kyra, a dedicated teacher working in a deprived London neighborhood, is visited by Tom, a wealthy and charismatic restaurateur whose wife has recently died. As they attempt to rekindle their romance, the vast ideological and economic gulf between them becomes an insurmountable barrier. The play is a masterful examination of the personal cost of political convictions, set entirely within Kyra's sparsely furnished flat, where the simple act of cooking spaghetti becomes a backdrop for intense intellectual and emotional warfare.
Kyra Hollis: A principled, self-contained young woman who has abandoned a life of luxury to find fulfillment in teaching under-privileged children in a cold, shabby flat. Tom Sergeant: A successful, restless businessman who is used to getting his way and cannot understand Kyra's choice to live in voluntary poverty and isolation. Edward Sergeant: Tom’s teenage son, whose visit to Kyra frames the play and highlights the collateral damage caused by his father’s past affair and present grief.
First Performance: 1995, at Cottesloe Theatre (National Theatre), London
Massive success; won the Olivier Award for Best Play and became a global hit on Broadway.
Original Actors: Bill Nighy, Stella Gonet