Captain Oates' Left Sock
by John Antrobus
by John Antrobus
In Captain Oates' Left Sock, a diverse group of therapy patients navigate their personal struggles and relationships under the dubious guidance of Doctor Parks, raising questions about healing, authority, and the nature of illness.
About The Play
About The Play
The group have gathered for therapy. There’s sex-obsessed David, Juliet who wants to be punished, fidgety Carter, and Celia who is only trying to help. Through suicide, slander and sly liaisons in the garden, they try to make each other well – or, perhaps, use each other to feel better about themselves. And sitting silently in the corner is Doctor Parks. He may not believe in a cure, but he’s sure his methods are sound.
Staged in a unique promenade style setting, Captain Oates’ Left Sock asks questions that still drive us mad today. Can others help us to help ourselves? Who’s really sick? Is anyone actually in charge around here? And most importantly – who stole Celia’s slip from the laundry room? And why?
The play was first produced as a Sunday Night production at the Royal Court Theatre in 1969, and revived for a full production at the Royal Court in 1973 with a cast including Stephen Rea and Oliver Cotton, directed by Nicholas Wright, when The Daily Telegraph called it “Highly compassionate, yet often wickedly humorous” .