Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford, preview: The Pillowman

The Pillowman, Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford, June 24-29.

Being a writer in a totalitarian state is always a tricky business, but for Katurian the risks suddenly intensify as he's interrogated about the unnerving similarities between his gruesome short stories and a series of child murders happening in his home town.

Martin McDonagh's bleakly funny but seriously disturbing play is the latest offering from the hard-working Bear Pit Theatre Company, for whom Steve Farr directs a cast that features Graham Tyler, Hannah McBride and Emma Beasley, alongside Alexander Simkin as Katurian.

The play received its world premiere in 2003, with a National Theatre production starring David Tennant and Jim Broadbent that went on to win an Olivier Award for Best Play.

McDonagh has in recent years twice been Oscar-nominated - as the writer of the films In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

For tickets go to: www.rsc.org.uk, or by calling 01789 333935