Chef (Modern Plays) - Softcover

Mahfouz, Sabrina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1474265391 ISBN 13: 9781474265393

Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2015

Synopsis

I cook here, create here,
make here be as much of life as I can
because outside of this
I'm not safe,
I don't know the way.

Chef tells the gripping story of how one woman went from being a haute-cuisine head chef to a convicted inmate running a prison kitchen. Leading us through her world of mouth-watering dishes and heart-breaking memories, Chef questions our attitudes to food, prisoners, violence, love and hope. Inspired by an interview Mahfouz conducted with celebrity chef Ollie Dabbous, Chef studies food as the ultimate art form taking stimulus from Dabbous's obsession with simplicity and making something the best it can be.

Featuring Sabrina Mahfouz's distinct, lyrical style in abundance, Chef received its premiere at the Underbelly, Cowgate, during the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning a Fringe First, and was produced at the Soho Theatre, London, in June 2015.

About this title

Review:

A nuanced, deeply moving story...vigorous, subtly political work
- The Times

Mahfouz s poetic script fizzes with energy
- Independent

An extremely tasty 50 minutes full of unexpected flavours and depths . . . Lyrical yet bruising writing . . .Cleverly structured . . . The order and cleanliness of the kitchen becomes a metaphor for an escape from the chaotic life of her childhood. But even in the pristine kitchen unexpected dangers lurk, and violence erupts in the sharp blade of a carving knife and trickle of blood on the chopping board. Small but nicely formed, and very piquant.
- Guardian

Mahfouz interjects moving stories from Chef's life with beautifully written tales of dishes
- Whatsonstage

The best production I saw . . . outstanding . . . a bruising monologue -- - Observer

About the Author:

Sabrina Mahfouz is a British Egyptian playwright, poet and screenwriter. Chef won a 2014 Fringe First Award; One Hour Only was winner of the 2012 Old Vic New Voices Edinburgh Award; Clean was produced by Traverse Theatre and transferred to New York in 2014. Sabrina has been the Sky Arts Academy Scholar for Poetry, Leverhulme Playwright in Residence at Bush Theatre and Associate Artist at Bush Theatre.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1474265391
• ISBN 13: 9781474265393
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48