Girls and Boys - Dennis Kelly

A Harrowing Tale of Love Turned Tragic

In Girls and Boys, Dennis Kelly crafts a masterful monologue that begins with charm and humour but steadily transforms into a devastating psychological drama. What starts as a story of love-at-first-sight quickly evolves into an unsettling exploration of a family unraveling under the weight of unspoken tensions and irreversible trauma.

Premiered in 2018 at London’s Royal Court Theatre, the play stunned audiences with Carey Mulligan’s raw and unforgettable performance. This edition, published by Methuen Drama in the Modern Classics series, includes a new introduction by theatre scholar David Pattie.

Main Themes of the Book

• The fragility of domestic life
• Gender roles and imbalance
• Psychological trauma and violence
• Love, memory, and loss
• The power of storytelling through monologue

Why You Should Read This Book by Dennis Kelly

• A gripping and emotionally raw monologue from acclaimed playwright Dennis Kelly
• Praised for its structure, pacing, and emotional depth
• Offers rich material for actors, students, and theatre enthusiasts
• Part of Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series, with a new academic introduction
• Ideal for performance studies and modern drama collections

Girls and Boys is a haunting and unforgettable exploration of how love can curdle into tragedy. Bold, unsettling, and heartbreakingly human, Dennis Kelly's monologue challenges audiences and readers alike to confront uncomfortable truths about gender, violence, and memory. A standout piece in contemporary theatre.