The Pitchfork Disney

by Philip Ridley

Published August 1991

The Pitchfork Disney heralded the arrival of a unique and disturbing voice in the world of contemporary drama. Manifesting Ridley's vivid and visionary imagination and the dark beauty of his outlook, the play resonates with his trademark themes: East London, storytelling, moments of shocking violence, memories of the past, fantastical monologues, and that strange mix of the barbaric and the beautiful he has made all his own.

The Pitchfork Disney was Ridley's first play and is now seen as launching a new generation of playwrights who were unafraid to shock and court controversy. This unsettling, dreamlike piece has surreal undertones and thematically explores fear, dreams and story-telling. First produced in 1991, it has gone on to be recognised as the annunciation of Ridley's dark and seductive world.


Philip Ridley's multi-award-winning play caused a sensation when it premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1992. A provocative and edgy drama, it is now regarded as a contemporary classic. Set in a strange room in East London, party preparations are underway but the presence of a very, very sharp knife does not bode well for an entirely happy birthday.