The Theatre of Philip Ridley is one of the first monographs dealing with

Philip Ridleys entire dramatic oeuvre, including the plays written

for teenage and young adult audiences. The books theoretical framework

convincingly suggests that Philip Ridleys plays are aesthetic representations

of accelerated globalization, urbanization, and human

atrocities. It not only offers readings of all major plays written by Philip

Ridley in his three decades as a major British playwright but it also delivers

substantial research reports on the relevant topics informing its

framework such as the relationship of theatre and globalization, social

acceleration, dystopian theatre and of course on Philip Ridleys dramatic

oeuvre and impressive career. What makes The Theatre of Philip

Ridley stand out is its end-to-end approach, meaning that it pays close

attention to the intricate relationship between content, dramatic form,

and stage aesthetics in all of its readings. Using theories like Hartmut

Rosas social acceleration to support its view on the last three decades

of globalization, the book exclusively offers a distinction between hot

and cold dystopian theatre. The books three analytical chapters show

to readers what is to be gained from this distinction and why it makes

sense to approach many of Ridleys plays with the analytical toolset

provided by the idea of dystopian theatre.