About the performance

Did Sam murder his brother, or his brother murder him? The Two Of Us is a one-man, dual-personality thriller told through a character’s obsessive interaction with mirrors and increasingly disturbing home videos. The Two Of Us examines intense, love-hate sibling rivalry, exploring identity and schizophrenia in a world where human worth is measured by material achievement.

Key Personnel

Simon Wu - Playwright
Konstandinos Mahoney - Producer
Shan Ng - Director & Video Artist
Edward Lidster - Production Designer & Installation Artist
Sherry Coenen - Lighting
Ruth Chan - Music

Production Information

Running time at full length: 1 hr 15

Suitable for age 16 +

Medium use of text

Use of recorded music

Requires a clear understanding of English

Touring Information

Small scale show (up to 400 seats)

Appropriate for studio setting

Number of people on tour: 6

Number of performers on stage: 1

Available to tour from November 2011

Suitable for rural touring

Outreach and Educational Work

Post-performance discussion about the production and interpretation; free talk on "The Use of Twins in the Theatre", a workshop on "Identities and Diaspora in the UK. "Non Verbal Communication - Use of Installation & Video on Stage" can also be organized as a pre-performance or even as a standalone interactive event.

Company History

Simon Wu is an established playwright; his play, WOLF in the HOUSE was showcased at the Soho Theatre in 2008; THE PILGRIMAGE OF THE HEART and OIKOS both had three week London runs in 2008 and 2010.

Simon’s co-written radio plays have been broadcast on the BBC World Service, LOOKING FOR STONES (1999), BARE BRANCHES (2008) and DEMOLITION MAN (2009). He was accepted in the Critical Mass organized by the Royal Court in 2010.

Recent Productions / Tours

Simon Wu's play, OIKOS, a climate change play commissioned byThe Red Room, published by Oberon Books, had a three week run in 2010 at the Jellyfish Theatre, Southwark, an occasional theatre built from recycled materials. Simon’s co-written radio play, DEMOLITION MAN (2009), was broadcast on the BBC World Service as part of a joint project with the Slade School of Art.

In 2010 The Royal Court invited him to join the Critical Mass workshop.

Reviews

“Fantastic concept that has a huge amount of theatrical potential”, “a strong narrative”, “a very gripping read”, “characters are well conceived and well-drawn” JUST THE TWO OF US, Bruntwood Competition Reader Report, 13 October 2008;

“Wu’s skillfully contrived script soon has us wondering which brother it is actually talking to us – and is it always the same one?” JUST THE TWO OF US, British Theatre Guide, 2009

“Zhang’s disturbing story remains a truly wondrous discovery” PILGRIMAGE OF THE HEART, Time Out, June 12-18. 2008

“WOLF IN THE HOUSE has a strong physicality, even in this stage reading... Wu engages in an enigmatic series of apparent revelations that seem to keep on changing the possibilities, gradually peeling layers away to what may be the truth." WOLF IN THE HOUSE, The British Theatre Guide, 2008

“Simon Wu’s Oikos certainly lives up to the building’s ark-like contours.” OIKOS, The Guardian, 1 September 2010;

“Serious environmental threats cannot be doubted - both play and project succeed in their aim of making us think.” OIKOS, The London Magazine, 18 September 2010