Francis Bacon
A story of the contemporary artist Francis Bacon, ‘The Hanged Man” is a well executed and thought-provoking play from the pen of Danae Brook.
Set in Paris in 1971, the play focusses on the dramatic relationship between Francis Bacon and his long-time lover and favourite model George Dyer.
During their stay in the French capital, Bacon had his first retrospective. He did not want Dyer with him in Paris but Bacon took George to France out of responsibility as almost every painting in his exhibition was of George.
Directed by Robbie Taylor Hunt, the play drifts successfully from comedy scenes to tense drama moments just to end with a fatal death. The play is undoubtedly set to keep you in suspense until its very end.
‘The Hanged Man’ is part of Danae Brook’s Making art trilogy, featuring two other plays – ‘The Bed’ and ‘The Yellow House’.
‘Each of the stories are about the relationships that proceed the creation of great art,” said Danae Brook.
‘The Hanged Man” was recently performed at the Greyhound Pub in Wivenhoe.
“It was my idea to bring into the play the fact that Francis Bacon has in fact lived in the street where we put it on, which was the Greyhound pub,” said Danae Brook.
Francis Bacon
“The play started with people not quite sure what they were gong to get and it ended up being absolutely full house which was very exciting, ” Danae said.
Danae Brook is herself a Wivenhoe journalist and writer. In “The Hanged man” she managed to show the true face of Francis Bacon – a controversial artist who paints the difficult emotions and experiences we have a tendency to bury – our deepest, darkest emotions.
To listen to the full interview with Danae Brook, click below.
