''Rafts and Dreams'' is a

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

by English playwright

Robert Holman Robert Holman (1952 – 3 December 2021) was a British dramatist whose work has been produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the Royal Court Theatre, as well as in the West End theatre, West End and elsewhere, since the 1970s. He was ...

that was first performed in 1990, and published in 1991.

Plot

Beginning as a seeming domestic drama, ''Rafts and Dreams'' shows the relationship between obsessive-compulsive

mysophobe Mysophobia, also known as verminophobia, germophobia, germaphobia, bacillophobia and bacteriophobia, is a pathological fear of contamination and germs. It is classified as a type of specific phobia, meaning it is evaluated and diagnosed based ...

Hetty and her soldier husband Leo, and their neighbour Neil – a victim of

childhood sexual abuse Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child (whet ...

who is now studying to be a doctor. However, when Leo and Neil remove a

tree stump After a tree has been cut and has fallen, the stump or tree stump is usually a small remaining portion of the trunk with the roots still in the ground. Stumps may show the age-defining rings of a tree. The study of these rings is known as dendr ...

from Leo's garden they find an

underground lake An underground lake or subterranean lake is a lake underneath the surface of the Earth. Most naturally occurring underground lakes are found in areas of karst topography, where limestone or other soluble rock has been weathered away, leaving a ca ...

under all

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

which expands to flood the entire world. Leo makes a raft from their living room and as they float they meet the wife of the man who abused Neil.

Productions

''Rafts and Dreams'' was first presented at the

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...

in 1990. The production was directed by John Dove and the cast was: In 2003 the play was revived at the

Royal Exchange, Manchester The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on land bounded by St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street. The complex includes the Royal Ex ...

in a production directed by Tim Stark.

Critical reception

'' Encore Theatre Magazine'' described the play as “one of the great post-war British plays.”

Plot

Productions

Critical reception

References

Further reading