the contract killer
Karlsen is a down-on-his-luck private investigator looking for work. When the only job on offer is a contract killing, Karlsen agrees despite his lack of experience. Things don’t go to plan and it seems the contract is open to negotiation.
The play follows the twists and turns of an inexperienced contract killer with a weakness for turquoise dresses and wide-eyed women. This absurdist comedy by one of Denmark’s best-loved writers sees the fates of the eponymous contract killer, his target, the employer and his wife, twist, turn and hang in the balance.
What is a life worth? Who will survive? And will the hair dye ever make it to Pakistan?
2011-15
UK and English language premiere
Original title:
Lejemoderen
Language:
Danish
: ensemble
Karlsen Darren Stamford
Rober Riis Will Timbers (2015)
and Ben Stanley (2012)
and Rob Stott (2011)
Director Jørgen Holt Jason Denyer
Ellen Holt Debbie White
and Trine Garrett as Secretary Svendsen
: production team
Direction Camila França & Trine Garrett
Production Camila França & Trine Garrett
thanks to
Nyborg’s Kitchen, Norvik Press, the Danish Church in London (2012) and Nordicana festival (2015).
Presented by special arrangement with Benny Andersen & Elisabeth Ehmer.
From Page to Stage
Following early drafts and workshops with actors, we first presented a rehearsed reading of The Contract Killer in collaboration with Nyborg’s Kitchen in 2011.
This was followed by a one-off production at our A Night of Crime event, staged in a pop-up crime scene – an empty shopfront we transformed into a performance space in Hackney Wick.
In 2012, we staged the play at the Danish Church in London as part of An Afternoon with Benny Andersen – an event celebrating the Danish writer’s visit to London and marking the play’s publication by Norvik Press.
In 2015, we brought the play to Nordicana at the Troxy in Stepney, and released an audio podcast version later that year.