Presented in collaboration with Under the Radar
Mark Russell, Festival Director & ArKtype, Festival Producer
More information at utrfest.org

Welcome to the North American premiere of Pan Pan's book club, where the first and only book you'll be reading all year is author Miranda July's novel The First Bad Man. If you haven't read it, don't worry: the real story is the club itself. More than just a staging of scenes from the book or a literary dissection, The First Bad Man is an immersive, comedic, and occasionally combative exploration of the intersections between the play's characters and its inspirations. July's writing addresses the delicate balance between the satisfaction of engagement and the risk of harm when we dare to show our true selves. As the members of the book club get into the book, it gets into them. Is this a club based in good faith? Or have you stepped into something darker than you signed up for?

Created by Mish Grigor and Gavin Quinn with Aedín Cosgrove, Luka Costello, Clare Howe, Sonya Kelly, Simon Kenny, Grace Morgan, Katherine O’Malley and Dylan Tighe.
2024 Cast: Mish Grigor, Faith Jones, Chris Manley & Grace Morgan
Directed by Gavin Quinn
Designed by Aedín Cosgrove
Music by Simon Kenny
Movement Director: Katherine O’Malley
Assistant Director: Grace Morgan
Produced by Emma Coen

Pan Pan was founded in 1993 by Co-Artistic Directors Aedín Cosgrove and Gavin Quinn. The company has created 52 new theater and performance pieces and toured worldwide, receiving multiple national and international awards. Pan Pan have toured extensively to prestigious venues and festivals around the world including BAM, Lincoln Centre, St Ann’s Warehouse, NCPA China, Edinburgh International Festival Sydney and Melbourne Festivals, the Barbican and Hau Berlin.Since its inception, Pan Pan has constantly examined and challenged the nature of its work and has resisted settling into well-tried formulas. Developing new performance ideas is at the center of the company’s mission. All the works created are original, either through the writing (original plays) or through the totally unique expression of established writings. Pan Pan tries to approach theater as an open form of expression and has developed an individual aesthetic that has grown from making performances in a host of different situations and conditions. Pan Pan is committed to presenting performances nationally and internationally and developing links for co-productions and collaborations. The company has toured in Ireland, UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and China.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 or [email protected].