The Effect

A Student Edition of Lucy Prebble's acclaimed 2012 play, which looks at two people on a clinical drugs trial and investigates questions around sanity, neurology, physical attraction and the possibilities of medicine.
The edition includes commentary and notes by Paulette Marty, which look at the context around depression and anti-depressant medication; as well as delving into major questions posed by the play, such as "is love real?" and "what is chemistry when applied to human beings?".
Her commentary also looks at the play in production, the implications of the playwright having written the roles for particular actors, and the opportunities that arise from the playwright encouraging future actors to "mould the text around themselves".

Lucy Prebble's plays include The Sugar Syndrome (George Devine Award 2004 for Outstanding Debut Play and the TMA Award for Best New Play); Enron (Best New Play at the TMA Theatre Awards); and The Effect (Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play 2012). TV series include Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Lucy Prebble is the recipient of the 2004 Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright.
Paulette Marty is Professor of Theatre Arts at Appalachian State University, USA. She teaches theatre history, play analysis, dramaturgy, directing and cross-disciplinary topics. She is the author of Contemporary Women Stage Directors: Conversations on Craft (Methuen Drama, 2019).

CHRONOLOGY
COMMENTARY
Context
Depression and Dopamine
Anti-depressant Medications
Drug Trials
Other Plays by Lucy Prebble
Themes
Is This Love Real?
Can We Trust Our Feelings?
Other Artists
Chemistry
Religious vs Materialist Views
Laboratory vs Real World
In Production
Casting & the Implications of Writing for Particular Actors
Critical Response
PLAY TEXT
NOTES