Book cover for An Ark by Simon Stephens
2026 Released
48 Pages
0-1 Hours
Audiobook Unavailable
Paperback Unavailable
Hardback Unavailable
Methuen DramaISBN 9781350632455

Don't panic.
Don't be scared.
This must feel strange to you.
It felt strange to me…

From quiet sorrows to breathtaking beauty, the mystery of human experience unfolds before you. In An Ark, four guides shepherd you into an understanding of the human condition, encompassing the joy of first love and the inevitability of death.

The first play created for mixed reality, this genre-defying collaboration between Tony Award–winning writer Simon Stephens (Vanya, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), critically acclaimed director Sarah Frankcom (UK Theatre Award for Our Town), and mixed reality pioneer Todd Eckert, An Ark explores the elemental meaning of life with the energy and humanity that are the hallmarks of their work.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere production by Tin Drum at The Shed, New York, featuring the ensemble cast of Ian McKellen, Golda Rosheuvel, Arinzé Kene, and Rosie Sheehy.

Simon Stephens

For more than twenty-five years Simon Stephens' work has been widely translated and produced throughout the world. He has won many Awards including Olivier and Tony Awards for new plays. His 2026 play An Ark staged by Tim Drum Collective at the Shed in New York was one of the first plays ever written for Mixed Reality . His radical adaptation of Uncle Vanya, Vanya, starring Andrew Scott ran in London's West End and at the Lucille Lortel , New York between Autumn 23 and Spring 25 and was screened to phenomenal success on NT Live and NT Home. His adaptation of Jose Saramago's Blindness was made into a light and sound installation that was produced internationally during the Covid 19 pandemic. His most famous play is his adaptation of Mark Haddon's best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He has had thirty five original plays produced professionally.

He has written new English language versions of masterpieces by Chekhov, Ibsen and Brecht, collaborated with the world's leading theatre practitioners (Patrice Chereau, Ivo Van Hove, Marianne Elliott, Katie Mitchell) and produced original work throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

He has been Artistic Associate at the Lyric, Hammersmith and Associate Playwright at the Royal Court Theatre. He has taught playwriting workshops in five continents. He has presented four series of the celebrated Playwright's Podcast from the Royal Court Theatre. He is a Professor at the Writing School of Manchester Metropolitan University. His book A Working Diary was published by Methuen Bloomsbury in 2016. He lives in East London with his wife, three children, their snake, two cats and two dogs.

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