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Kafka's Dick
Click on the images to view larger versions. Photographs by George Coupe
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| Justin Shevlin (Kafka), Andonis Anthony (Max Brod)
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| John Biggins (Sydney), Sherry Baines (Linda)
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| Justin Shevlin (Kafka), Gerry Hinks (Hermann K)
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| Andonis Anthony (Max Brod)
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| Tony Broughton (Father) |
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| Justin Shevlin (Kafka), Tony Broughton (Father) |
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| Justin Shevlin (Kafka), Sherry Baines (Linda), John Biggins (Sydney), Tony Broughton (Father) |
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| Gerry Hinks (Hermann K), Tony Broughton (Father) |
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| Gerry Hinks (Hermann K/God), Sherry Baines (Linda/Carmen Miranda), Justin Shevlin (Kafka) |
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| Justin Shevlin (Kafka), Andonis Anthony (Max Brod/Angel Gabriel) |
About the play
Prague, 1919. Convinced he is dying, insurance clerk and unknown writer Franz Kafka dictates his literary legacy to his best friend, publisher Max Brod: “Burn my books, Max.” Needless to say, Brod published Kafka’s entire writings: novels, stories, letters, diaries and a biography, rocketing Kafka to a place in the Pantheon of literary greats.
Cut to present-day Leeds and the sitting room of insurance clerk and Kafka obsessive Sydney, owner of every book by and about Kafka.
When a large-as-life Brod steps into the room, followed at a distance by a tortoise which morphs into Kafka, everyone gets on famously - until the realization that Kafka mustn’t find out about his classic status and that all the books must be hidden.
An hilarious and provocative flight of the literary imagination from one of our best-loved writers.
Two hours of comic bliss – The Daily Telegraph
Directed by Ian Hastings
Designed by Terry Brown
Lighting by Julie Washington
Sound by John Bates
DSM on the Book Kellie Clare
What the press say
Justin Shevlin is perfect as the troubled, anorexic, obsessive compulsive Czech novelist...Andonis Anthony is likewise entirely convincing as his friend and eventual publisher Max Brod. Sydney (John Biggins adopting a convincing impression of Bennett himself) [struggles] to write his own version of events whilst long suffering Linda is slowly liberated from her 80s suburbia (Sherry Baines expertly capturing the blossoming character). Gerry Hinks is Kafka's bullying and overbearing father - here given a Yorkshire spin - and Tony Broughton reveals real comic timing as Linda's doddering dad. Ian Hastings' direction is crisp and modern and Terry Brown's imaginative design adds to the contemporary feel.
- Robin Duke, The Gazette
Bennett's hilarious comedy opens the Dukes new season in Lancaster and is set to take the city by storm. Director Ian Hastings never fails to delight and he has surpassed himself with this production.
- Geoff Bottoms, Morning Star
Vintage Bennett...a consistently amusing yet thought-provoking tale which, amid many laughs and sometimes farcical action, also manages to ask serious questions about the nature of life, death and celebrity...A good play, well performed, well staged and thoroughly recommended.
- Barry Freeman, Lancaster Guardian
Hilarious, witty, full of gems...This was a superb production, extremely well acted. All the characters were realistic and credible, with lots of cringe-making moments. I really enjoyed it and recommend it without reservation. You might think it's all over - but look out for the surprising conclusion - be surprised and delighted as I was!
- Alan Chard, LakesUk
For the average theatre-goer, there is enough in this well-wrought play to entertain and bemuse with pacy action and witty dialogue. Hastings and his cast have given us a worthy and faithful rendering of the text, well-performed with intelligent and stylish staging.
I'm not telling you what happens at the end - you must go and see it for yourself. If you have enjoyed Bennett on the small (or large) screen, this will give you greater insight into one of our finest contemporary (and Northern) writers. It is well worth the while.
- Michael Nunn, Virtual Lancaster
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