Set in 1969, when physical and mental abuse was a fact of life to many women, this play is about domestic violence inside marriage – a subject still regrettably topical over thirty-five years later. The engagement of two university students brings together their families.

Sandra is from working class Doncaster and Tarquin is from the stockbroker belt of Chertsey in Surrey. The parents of both these students, although geographically and sociologically distant, share a common problem - the two fathers are controlling bullies with large fists. One mother seeks continual refuge in vodka bottles, the other in a make-believe gentleman companion, who is the antithesis of her husband.

The play explores their different social attitudes in a dramatically comedic way to start with, but the mood darkens considerably when the brutish red mist and balled fists become unbearable and unstoppable, with unpleasant, but not altogether unexpected results.

Eddie - 40’s, a dustbin man (refuse collector). He is a good man but has mixed feelings about social graces and behaviour which makes for a complex character. On the surface he is loud, rude and tries to be comical. On the inside he is insecure and childish which stems from a bad upbringing. He does love his wife and children, but doesn’t have a clue how to show it.