Lucy Prebble's The Effect to Make North American Premiere

The National Theatre of Great Britain’s North American wing (Tim Levy, producer) in collaboration with Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, and Patrick Daly have announced the North American premiere of playwright Lucy Prebble’s award-winning new play The Effect. Directed by David Cromer, the American production will open at the Barrow Street Theatre in March 2016. The play marks Cromer's return to Barrow Street where he directed Tribes, Our Town, Orson's Shadow, and Adding Machine.

The Effect follows Connie, a psychology student, and Tristan, a charming drifter, both of whom sign up for a clinical trial for a new antidepressant super-drug. Sealed off from the outside world, the attraction between Connie and Tristan turns into deeper feelings as their doses get stronger. As the trial's overseeing physician and her superior contend with the illicit relationship of their charges, they become increasingly conflicted about the ethical implications of their work. It's soon clear that neither is objective about the complex issues that surround them.

Lucy Prebble is the author of the plays The Sugar Syndrome and ENRON, as well as the television series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The Effect, which premiered at the National Theatre in 2012 in a co-production with Headlong, won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play. Prebble has also been the recipient of the prestigious George Devine Award and Theatre Awards UK award for Best New Play. She is currently developing a scripted comedic television series with comedian Sarah Silverman for HBO.