The Pillowman

Synopsis

'The first duty of a storyteller is to tell a story.' Or was it 'The only duty of a storyteller is to tell a story'?

A writer in a totalitarian state is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a number of child-murders that are happening in his town.

'Sometimes you don't even know what you've been craving until the real thing comes along.' New York Times

'McDonagh is more than just a very clever theatrical stylist. His tricks and turns have a purpose. They are bridges over a deep pit of sympathy and sorrow, illuminated by a tragic vision of stunted and frustrated lives.' Fintan O'Toole, Irish Times

Martin McDonagh's searingly brilliant play premiered at the National Theatre, London in November 2003. It was revived at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, in June 2023.

Summary

Chapter 1: Catflap

* Katurian, the protagonist, is a writer of gruesome fairytales under investigation by the totalitarian state.
* Two detectives, Ariel and Tupolski, interrogate Katurian about his stories, which depict violence and child abuse.

Real Example: Katurian's fairy tale "The Little Match Girl" ends with the girl setting herself ablaze as she dreams of a better life.

Chapter 2: Microwave

* Katurian's brother, Michal, is a mentally disabled man living in a nearby institution.
* The detectives question Michal about Katurian's stories, suspecting that he might have inspired them.
* Michal reveals that he has been abused and that Katurian has been protecting him.

Real Example: Michal's testimony includes a recollection of being tortured with a microwave by a sadistic neighbor.

Chapter 3: Trestle

* Katurian's past is revealed. He and Michal grew up in an abusive home, where their parents were killed by a mob.
* Katurian became a writer to express the pain and trauma he experienced.
* The detectives discover that Katurian's stories have been adapted into a play, performed by children in local schools.

Real Example: Katurian's story "The Seven Haystacks" depicts a group of children who are buried alive in a barn.

Chapter 4: Prank

* The production of the play has caused a public outcry, and a group of protestors demands its cancellation.
* Katurian is arrested and charged with child endangerment.
* Michal escapes from the institution and attempts to protect his brother by taking the blame for the play's content.

Real Example: The play's protestors carry signs that read "Stop the Child Killers" and "Protect Our Children."

Chapter 5: Glove

* Katurian and Michal face trial, with Katurian defending his artistic freedom and Michal trying to exonerate him.
* The detectives present evidence linking Katurian's stories to a series of child murders that have occurred in the city.
* Katurian begins to doubt his own sanity and the nature of his writing.

Real Example: One of the murdered children is revealed to have been wearing a glove identical to one that Katurian's father wore when he abused his sons.

Chapter 6: Broken

* Katurian confronts Michal about the murders, and Michal confesses to killing the children out of a desire to protect his brother.
* The detectives realize that Katurian's stories were not merely fantasies but a reflection of his own traumatic past and his fear of repeating it.
* Katurian and Michal are sentenced to death.

Real Example: Michal's confession is delivered in a chillingly matter-of-fact manner, highlighting the depths of his mental illness.

Chapter 7: Pillowman

* In a final act of redemption, Katurian writes a new fairy tale, "The Fairy Pillow," that offers solace and hope to those who have suffered trauma.
* The tale is performed by children as the snow falls, symbolizing a new beginning.
* Katurian and Michal leave the world as their stories continue to inspire hope and healing.

Real Example: "The Fairy Pillow" ends with the line, "And the pillowman whispered, 'Sleep, little ones, sleep.' And they slept."