“Neaptide races from domestic trauma to staff-room banter … it bursts with provocative ideas and disturbing questions about human relationships. Most important, it shows that the facade of liberalism and emancipation is merely a translucent gloss.” Jewish Chronicle
Claire is a history teacher at a local school where two teenage girls have come out. Their principal, Bea Grimble, is none too impressed, and aims to have them expelled. Claire, who had been hiding the fact that she is homosexual, speaks up on behalf of the girls: this in spite of the fact that she is fighting her ex-husband Lawrence for custody of their daughter, the precocious and happy Poppy.
All around Claire hardened attitudes are challenged – and confirmed – as she must decide whether to try to maintain a position of honesty, and battle hypocrisy, from within the bounds of the law, or without.
A modern story of custody battles, sexual identity and gender politics, framed around the ancient myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone.
Neaptide was the winner of the 1982 George Devine Award and became the first play by a living female writer to be performed at the National Theatre, London, in 1986.
This Modern Classics edition feature a new introduction by Dr Carina Bartleet.
- ISBN10 1350184896
- ISBN13 9781350184893
- Publish Date 11 February 2021 (first published 11 April 1985)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Methuen Drama
- Format Paperback
- Pages 120
- Language English