Art By Asmina Reza
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ART is a brilliantly sharp comedy that asks one deceptively simple question: How much would you pay for a completely white painting? More importantly, how much would you risk for it—including your oldest friendships?
When Serge, a successful dermatologist, buys an expensive modern painting that's essentially a white canvas with barely visible white lines, his best friend Marc is horrified. What follows is a hilarious and increasingly heated debate about art, taste, and what we're really arguing about when we argue about anything.
As the two friends drag their mutual friend Yvan into the dispute, what begins as a disagreement about aesthetics spirals into something far more revealing—and dangerous. Are they really fighting about a painting, or about status, insecurity, loyalty, and the fear that your friends don't actually know you at all?
Yasmina Reza's masterpiece is devastatingly funny, whip-smart, and achingly recognisable. In just 90 minutes, you'll laugh, wince, and maybe see your own friendships reflected back at you. It's won the Tony Award and the Olivier Award for a reason: beneath the wit and the arguments about modern art lies a profound exploration of how we perform for each other, how fragile our connections can be, and whether friendship can survive honesty.
Perfect for anyone who's ever had a passionate disagreement about something that seemed trivial—until it suddenly wasn't. You'll leave the theatre looking at both art and your friends a little differently.
Warning: Contains strong language, middle-aged male anxiety, and one very expensive white painting.
When Serge, a successful dermatologist, buys an expensive modern painting that's essentially a white canvas with barely visible white lines, his best friend Marc is horrified. What follows is a hilarious and increasingly heated debate about art, taste, and what we're really arguing about when we argue about anything.
As the two friends drag their mutual friend Yvan into the dispute, what begins as a disagreement about aesthetics spirals into something far more revealing—and dangerous. Are they really fighting about a painting, or about status, insecurity, loyalty, and the fear that your friends don't actually know you at all?
Yasmina Reza's masterpiece is devastatingly funny, whip-smart, and achingly recognisable. In just 90 minutes, you'll laugh, wince, and maybe see your own friendships reflected back at you. It's won the Tony Award and the Olivier Award for a reason: beneath the wit and the arguments about modern art lies a profound exploration of how we perform for each other, how fragile our connections can be, and whether friendship can survive honesty.
Perfect for anyone who's ever had a passionate disagreement about something that seemed trivial—until it suddenly wasn't. You'll leave the theatre looking at both art and your friends a little differently.
Warning: Contains strong language, middle-aged male anxiety, and one very expensive white painting.
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Where is it happening?
City Theatre, 1-2 Back Silver Street, Durham, DH1 3, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherSimon Stage Works
