Beauty and the Beast

Lucy Kirkwood’s delightful version of the classic fairytale, first seen in a production devised and directed by Katie Mitchell at the National Theatre for Christmas 2010.

‘I expect you have been told fairytales before. But you have never really heard a fairytale until you have heard it told by a real fairy.’ 

The theft of a single rose has monstrous consequences for Beauty and her father. Because this is no ordinary rose…and this is no ordinary fairytale. Narrated by a pair of mischievous fairies, a very helpful Rabbit, and a Thoughtsnatcher machine, this timeless story is sure to surprise, delight and enchant.

A wild and twisted tale, full of exciting and intriguing challenges for drama groups wishing to stage their own production.

Lucy Kirkwood’s Beauty and the Beast was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in December 2010.

‘Chock-full of clever ideas‘ — Whatsonstage.com

‘Clever, fast and endearing, with grand insults and proper jeopardy.‘ — The Times

‘The story is beautifully and touchingly told… a continuously inventive delight‘ — Telegraph

‘This new devised version is blessed with a sassy script by Lucy Kirkwood… Beauty-fully done‘ — Evening Standard

Author Biography

Lucy Kirkwood is a British playwright and screenwriter whose plays include: The Human Body (Donmar Warehouse, London, 2024); Rapture (promoted as That Is Not Who I Am, Royal Court Theatre, London, 2022); The Welkin (National Theatre, London 2020); Mosquitoes (National Theatre, 2017); The Children (Royal Court Theatre, 2016); Chimerica (Almeida Theatre & West End, 2013; winner of the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Play, the 2013 Evening Standard Best Play Award, the 2014 Critics’ Circle Best New Play Award, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Award); NSFW (Royal Court, 2012); small hours (co-written with Ed Hime; Hampstead Theatre, 2011); Beauty and the Beast (with Katie Mitchell; National Theatre, 2010); Bloody Wimmin, as part of Women, Power and Politics (Tricycle Theatre, 2010); it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now (Clean Break & Arcola Theatre, 2009; winner of the 2012 John Whiting Award); Hedda (Gate Theatre, London, 2008); and Tinderbox (Bush Theatre, 2008).

She won the inaugural Berwin Lee UK Playwrights Award in 2013.