How to Hold Your Breath

by Zinnie Harris

Because we live in Europe. Because nothing really bad happens. The worst is a bit of an inconvenience. Perhaps not such a good mini break. But really in the grand scheme of life, not so bad.Starting with a seemingly innocent one night stand, this dark, witty and magical play by Zinnie Harris dives into our recent European history.An epic look at the true cost of principles and how we live now, How to Hold Your Breath premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in February 2015.

Genres: Plays, Drama, 21st Century

203 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Zinnie Harris is an award-winning British playwright, screenwriter and director currently living in Edinburgh.

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up.

Initially this reminded me of another recent play I read ('Say You Love Satan'), since both concern people who inadvertently sleep with the devil. This, however, is not as comedic as the other play, and is in actuality an indictment of current day values (or the lack of them), which lead to economic and societal collapse. I've also read Harris's earlier play 'Further Than the Furthest Thing', and on the basis of both, am eager to see what else she's produced.

[fiona ☁️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for uni

[Harry McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a play that begins with a woman sleeping with the devil (yes, really) and ends with the collapse of capitalism in Europe. I think it is criminally underrated for its imagination and its scope. Love it.

[Duncan Hendry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sprawling, dark piece of theatre which seems almost impossible to stage. Look forward to more Harris. Mad.

[deniz]

Oyun mu yeşilçam senaryosu mu belli değil. Bu metni yazmasan ölecek gibi miydin Zinnie Harris?

[SANIYA Dhawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

def. dont do a monolouge with this...

[Maja Svensson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riktigt bra pjäs enligt moi.

[Cesar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a daunting and anxiety-inducing drama.

[Tamery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cortito y con momentos de humor, pero muy fuerte al mismo tiempo. Se lee en una tarde. El librero el puto amo.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of an awesome deconstruction of late stage capitalist values and an inversion of the world order, however it also goes from a quaint misunderstanding on the train while buying a ticket to Mad Max: Prostitutedome rather quickly.

Harris is a good postmodernist voice in contemporary theatre, but it sometimes feels a little too off-the wall - and from what I've seen of the play performed - it definitely reads better than it performs.

[Chris Lilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really grotesquely awful. Amps up the desperation, bad thing on bad thing on bad thing, and has nothing whatsoever to say about it. It was somewhat relieved by a good performance by Maxine Peake, and a better one by Christine Bottomley playing the sister, but why did they agree to act in it? Why did the Court put it on? So many questions, so little reason to care.

[linse]

so smart…and brutal and funny and tragic and helplessly real

loose-end illusion „life-lines“
capitalizing on humans, on pain

individualizing global/political crisis
how much does safety cost?

patriarchal oppression und love towards a violent system in order to survive

complicancy

[LOUISE BURNS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. Exhilarating. Heartbreaking. Powerful and evocative writing.

[massmarketbareback · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting the year by re-reading a fav from last year. Loved it even more this time around. So so good.

[Charles Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took a while to get into, but started to heat up close to the end. Clever commentary on international politics.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imaginative at the start but becomes a bit expected by the end. Comparisons to current events are undiluted and on point though.