Author’s Note

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Scanning, uploading, and electronic distribution of this book or the facilitation of such without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any member of educational institutions wishing to photocopy part or all of the work for classroom use, or anthology, should send inquiries to Grove Atlantic, 154 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011 or permissions@groveatlantic.com.

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that The Hard Problem is subject to a royalty. It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and all British Commonwealth countries, and all countries covered by the International Copyright Union, the Pan-American Copyright Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and rights of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved.

First-class professional, stock, and amateur applications for permission to perform it, and those other rights stated above, must be made in advance to United Agents LLP, 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE and by paying the requisite fee, whether the play is presented for charity or gain and whether or not admission is charged.

First published in 2015 in Great Britain by Faber and Faber Limited, London.

Published simultaneously in Canada

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-0-8021-2446-3

eISBN 978-0-8021-9050-5

Grove Press

an imprint of Grove Atlantic

154 West 14th Street

New York, NY 10011

Distributed by Publishers Group West

groveatlantic.com

For Sabrina

Author’s Note

I am grateful for help from the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, in the person of Dr John Simmonds. It is my responsibility that the circumstances in the play have more regard for dramatic purpose than for contemporary regulations.

As for the science in The Hard Problem, I am in debt to more books than I can mention, and I have also enjoyed the privilege of exchanges with John Coates (whose recent work on hormone-related performance in the financial world the plot anticipates), Richard Dawkins, Robert May, Thomas Nagel, John Searle, Elliott Sober, George Sugihara and David Sloan Wilson. I owe particular thanks to Armand Marie Leroi who was a patient guide through the writing and saved me from numerous errors.

The Hard Problem was first produced on the Dorfman stage of the National Theatre, London, on 21 January 2015. The cast in order of speaking was as follows:

Spike Damien Molon

Hilary Olivia Vinall

Amal Parth Thakerar

Leo Jonathan Coy

Julia Rosie Hilal

Ursula Lucy Robinson

Jerry Anthony Calf

Cathy Hayley Canham / Daisy Jacob / Eloise Webb

Bo Vera Chok

Elaine (on screen) Kristin Atherton

Music by J. S. Bach, arranged by Matthew Scott

Director Nicholas Hytner

Designer Bob Crowley

Lighting Designer Mark Henderson

Sound Designer Paul Arditti

Music Supervisor Matthew Scott

Pianist Benjamin Powell

Company Voice Work Jeannette Nelson

Staff Director Zachary James

12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Следующая ⇒