Breaking the Castle

I tried dying and it didn't work … I might as well try living.

Struggling actor David can't get enough—of anything. Alcohol, drugs, women, gambling—whatever it takes to escape the bark of the black dog. Bouncing from audition to audition as he battles his debilitating mental health issues and descends into a world of addiction, David is consumed by an overwhelming feeling of never belonging anywhere. Days and nights are lived through a thick haze of drugs and alcohol. This bender could be his last, but he doesn't care—there are worse things than death.

When David is thrown an unlikely lifeline and a final shot at redemption, he must find the strength to confront his inner demons and buried trauma.

Breaking the Castle is based on true events in the life of playwright Peter Cook. It shines a spotlight on mental health and addiction in an exquisitely rendered and sometimes hilarious story of hope, belonging, and finding a way to be in this world. 

'An incredibly powerful work that was a privilege to see'—Stage Whispers

'A work of empathy'—New Territory