Hari Berrow speaks to Wrexham-born writer Lucie Lovatt behind Kill Thy Neighbour, a play that debuts this April in north Wales – where it’s also set, and where prevailing real-life issues with holiday home hoarders provide the basis for some dark comedy…
Penned by Lucie Lovatt, Kill Thy Neighbour is a dark comedy thriller set in a picture-perfect house in a picture-perfect village in rural Wales. Faced with being the only household that hasn’t been bought by landlords or wealthy holidaygoers, Caryl and Meirion have a choice: get out or hold fort.
Second home ownership in coastal parts of Wales has been the subject of much debate and attention over recent years. Lucie Lovatt tells me that, after seeing what it was doing to the areas she was born in, she wanted to explore the realities of these communities that were falling apart.
“It was inspired by an article I read. One village near Wrexham only has two or three houses out of 50 that are still permanent residences: I immediately thought that was a dramatic image, and a great location that I understood and knew as well.
“There’s an old documentary about the last two Jews in Kabul – these two old Jewish guys, they’re the only two left and they hate each other. I’ve always thought that’s such a funny image, so I had the idea that if it’s a small Welsh coastal village, and there’s only one house that’s not a holiday home or holiday let, it would be fun if the people inside hated each other. It’s kind of feeding off The Dance Of Death by August Strindberg. There’s so much fun and drama in that idea. There’s also the conflict presented by the people that have been there a long time and the incomers – a load of really great drama-making conflict.
“It’s also an opportunity to consider the effects of unfettered capitalism, be that in the context of buying a second home or the decisions being made in our everyday lives. As a society now we are so consumed by capitalism we have lost sense of where it starts and ends. It’s so a part of our world we don’t see it anymore, and I wanted people to go away and think about it.”
Born in Wales but having moved to and lived in England since she was a child, Lovatt also wanted to explore ideas of belonging and identity within her work. Having been a West End producer for the majority of her career, she herself is taking on a new role as writer.
“I had my kids, and there is something wonderful about seeing kids play – but I wanted to play too. When I was a teenager, my mother went back to train as a nurse. There is something incredibly inspiring about that – when you see a parent go away and continue their learning journey. I’m trying to do that and am trying to learn Welsh. My daughter is like, ‘why are you doing that?’ – but it’s really important that we instil that learning is a lifelong journey.
“At a practical level, I found that after having my children I wasn’t able to produce things in the way I had before. I’d produced some really big shows, and I knew that I couldn’t do that anymore unless I was able to duplicate myself. Then there was the pandemic and I felt like once I’d gone back into the workplace, it wouldn’t happen.
“When you’re a parent, there is such limited time for yourself, so I felt if I was going to write it, I was going to have to write it now because ‘she’s going to wake up from her nap in 45 minutes…’ or ‘I’ve got to go get the older one from school’. The room for procrastination goes.”
Lucie Lovatt is clear that, at its heart, Kill Thy Neighbour is a dark and edgy comedy that she hopes the audience will enjoy. “I just want people to have a great night out,’ she says. “It’s always top of my list: that an audience have sat in the theatre and not regretted going. Have a wonderful night out, and maybe reflect on the themes of the play.”
Kill Thy Neighbour, Theatr Clwyd, Mold, Tue 2-Sat 20 Apr; Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Wed 24 Apr-Sat 4 May.
Tickets: £10-£32. Info: Mold / Milford Haven
words HARI BERROW