A Subject of Scandal and Concern
by John Osborne
by John Osborne
A Subject Of Scandal And Concern tells the true story of George Jacob Holyoake, a poor young teacher tried for blasphemy in 1842 England after his commitment to speaking the truth leads to his arrest.
About The Play
About The Play
In a production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, the London premiere – and the first production in over 40 years – of John Osborne’s A Subject Of Scandal And Concern.
Cheltenham, 1842. George Jacob Holyoake is a poor young teacher, making his way from Birmingham to Bristol to visit a friend who has been imprisoned for publishing a journal that criticises the establishment. When he makes a stop in Cheltenham to address a lecture, his words and his overwhelming commitment to speaking the truth will change his life forever. Arrested and tried for blasphemy, and separated from his starving wife and child, Holyoake is faced with the choice of conforming or staying true to his beliefs in a time of injustice and intolerance.
Based on the true story of the last man to stand trial for blasphemy in England, A Subject Of Scandal And Concern was originally written for television in 1960 starring Richard Burton and Rachel Roberts, and directed by Tony Richardson, and was first seen onstage in Nottingham in the early 1960s. This production marks the first theatrical staging of the play in over 40 years and its long overdue London premiere.