The Painkiller Podcast

"A kill’s a kill. Death comes as a thief in the night, wearing only socks. Or a waiter slipping poison into the groom’s champagne. I don’t choose my hits. Some do, but I think that’s a recipe for discrimination."

When an assassin is tasked with a statement kill, he plans the job in his usual way. However, upon meeting his mark he realises things are not going to be as straightforward as he thought. 

SHADOWS BURNING stars Chris Lew Kum Hoi as Daisuke. It was written by William Dobson and directed by Max Elton, with sound design from Max Pappenheim. It is available now on The Painkiller Podcast.

The Painkiller Project has received a National Lottery Funded Project Grant from Arts Council England. 

However, it is still crucial that we raise additional funds to support the continuation of the project. If you enjoy our work and would like to support it, you can either:

1. Make a one-off donation through PayPal.
2. Become a Patron on our Patreon page. This gives you access to bonus material, such as interviews with the winning playwrights and PDF copies of their scripts.

"Yes, I know you've only got your pension to live off and no, I know it's not much these days, but what do you think my mortgage is going to do, pay itself?"

Matilda has been renting out her second home for years and those walls hold some stories. She hasn’t heard from her current tenant in over two months so she decides to pay her a surprise visit to find out what’s going on and, more importantly, get her money.

Tenants is performed by Rachael Stirling and was written by Marcus Orlandi, directed by Max Elton, with sound design from Piers Sherwood Roberts. 

If you enjoy this play and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can either: 

•  Make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project visit www.bitterpilltheatre.com

From next month, our productions will be supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

#11 Arsehole by Louis Catliff - performed by Daniel Portman

"I know what you’re thinking. How can you let them do that to you? Just sit there and get pumped full of semi-digested fast food for a dare by some spotty little orc and his posse of sniggering twelve-year-olds. 

"You think I’m disgusting. Well, you’re wrong. I am not disgusting. This isn’t me. Do you realise what I cost when new?!My rim should be being kept warm by the cheeks of Kings, Emperors. Popstars. A higher class of ass."

Trapped in a vintage bathroom fittings shop in Slough, a display toilet endures daily humiliation. But it hasn’t always been this way…

Arsehole is a madcap comedy that tells the sordid story of Russian Oligarchs, lavish parties and betrayal…

Arsehole was written by Louis Catliff and performed by Daniel Portman. It was directed by Max Elton and sound designed by Piers Sherwood Roberts.

 If you enjoy this play and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can either: 

•  Make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project visit www.bitterpilltheatre.com

From next month, our productions will be supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

"My mum had three rules for sex:
Rule 1: Keep your head down, eyes up.
Rule 2: Always take your pill.
Rule 3: If they ask you, "Who's your daddy?" tell them you can't remember. It always throws them off."

Olive is walking through the city streets in the dead of night. She is on her way home from her first ever one night stand and she's wondering if she's skipped the part of her life where this behaviour is fun and exciting. Is everything getting a bit out of hand?

“Wow! I Feel Nothing” is an intimate reflection on how our loved ones stay with us in the strangest of ways.

Wow! I Feel Nothing was written by Nicola Maclean and performed by Kate Fleetwood. It was directed by Hannah Hauer-King and sound designed by Nicola T. Chang.

If you enjoy this play and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can either: 

•  Make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project visit www.bitterpilltheatre.com

From next month, our productions will be supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

"You know what’s crazy? It’s crazy I’m actually saying this out loud because this sort of makes it... what? Real. Tangible. Legitimate. Gives it weight.

It being what happens next."

When his teacher asks him to stay behind after class, Leo doesn’t know what to expect. Years later, he tries to untangle the encounter that followed. How does he really feel about what happened that day?

Object was written by Theo Hristov and performed by Alex Lawther. It was directed by Hew Rous-Eyre and sound designed by Piers Sherwood-Roberts.

If you enjoy this play and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can either: 

•  Make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project visit www.bitterpilltheatre.com

Paper Thin by Eliot J Fallows

"I don't say hello at first. That can scare off the “aliens” - what I call the new starters, gift-buyers, confused old people and poser hipsters who pretend they read comics all the time, but really can't afford it"

When an oblivious father enters her comic book shop, Vanessa is tasked with finding out what he wants without giving away a secret that could make the whole transaction very awkward.

Paper Thin was written by Eliot J Fallows. It was performed by Pearl Mackie, directed by Dom Riley and sound designed by Piers Sherwood-Roberts.

Bitter Pill are committed to producing new writing until theatres in the UK reopen. Through The Painkiller Project, we’re open for submissions once a month and are producing two plays from each submission window.

• If you enjoy the play you’re about to hear and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, you can become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project - https://www.bitterpilltheatre.com/

People Watching by Liam Kelly

"Gaze upon this non-entity dragging his feet past HMV. F**king odourless fart. Utterly unremarkable. All the charisma of a deflated colostomy bag. Take a good gander because you’re looking at the future Prime Minister."

John Bull likes to watch people. He sees everything: every dirty little secret and every skeleton in the closet. People make assumptions about him, but if they knew what he knew, they might think again.

People Watching is a caustic comedy that asks what we can ever hope to know about the people we pass on the street - and what they might know about us.

People Watching was written by Liam Kelly. It was performed by Steffan Rhodri. It was Directed by Hew Rous-Eyre and Sound Designed by Piers Sherwood Roberts.

Bitter Pill are committed to producing new writing until theatres in the UK reopen. Through The Painkiller Project, we’re open for submissions once a month and are producing two plays from each submission window.

• If you enjoy the play you’re about to hear and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, you can become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project - https://www.bitterpilltheatre.com/

Severance Package by Freddie van der Velde

Despite giving her life to an investment bank - financial analyst and modafinil guzzler Olivia May is being made redundant. Furious with the decision, she refuses to leave until she gets what she’s owed.

Severance Package is an explosive comedy that explores our relationship with wealth, privilege and grapefruit knives.

Severance Package was written by Freddie van der Velde. It was performed by Nicola Coughlan and Kate Stokes. It was Directed by Hannah De Ville and Sound Designed by Piers Sherwood Roberts.

Bitter Pill are committed to producing new writing until theatres in the UK reopen. Through The Painkiller Project, we’re open for submissions once a month and are producing two plays from each submission window.

• If you enjoy the play you’re about to hear and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, you can become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project - https://www.bitterpilltheatre.com/

O Sister, Where Art Thou? by Will Farrell

When Liz decides to track down her long-lost brother she turns to a private investigator. Martin Hooper, (P.I.) is more than happy to take the case but before long Liz is faced with an uncomfortable truth…Martin might not be the best sleuth for the job.

O Sister, Where Art Thou? is a comic and outlandish record of a troubling yet entirely fictitious case.

O Sister, Where Art Thou? was written by Will Farrell. It was performed by Charlotte Ritchie and Justin Edwards. It was Directed by Max Elton and sound designed by Charlie Pelling.

Bitter Pill are committed to producing new writing until theatres in the UK reopen. Through The Painkiller Project, we’re open for submissions once a month and are producing two plays from each submission window.

• If you enjoy the play you’re about to hear and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, you can become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project - https://www.bitterpilltheatre.com/

Smoking Reduces Fertility

Laura has a secret which has changed everything. 

It has caused her to question her perfectly put together life and to leave her daughter with the nanny.

Smoking Reduces Fertility is a sharp portrayal of motherhood and a foreboding glimpse into the minds of two women on the edge

Smoking Reduces Fertility was written by Ella Thompson. It was performed by Noma Dumezweni and Jessica Barden. It was Directed by Grace Vaughan and sound designed by Piers Sherwood-Roberts.

Bitter Pill are committed to producing new writing until theatres in the UK reopen. Through The Painkiller Project, we’re open for submissions once a month and are producing two plays from each submission window.

• If you enjoy the play you’re about to hear and you’d like to support the continuation of the project, you can make a one-off donation through PayPal.me - https://www.paypal.me/bitterpilltheatre
• Or, you can become a patron to the project through Patreon. This allows you to make a donation that would be repeated each time a new winning play is released, fortnightly - http://patreon.com/bitterpilltheatre

It would mean the world to us and allow us to make more work.

To find out more about Bitter Pill or to subscribe to our mailing list for more news about The Painkiller Project - https://www.bitterpilltheatre.com/