The Winterling

Play

Writers: Jez Butterworth

Overview

Show Information

Category
Play
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
2006
Genres
Dark Comedy
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
An abandoned farmhouse in the center of the forest of Dartmoor, England
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Ideal for
Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes adult, young adult characters

Synopsis

The Winterling is a darkly comic drama packed with sharp wit and unforgettable characters. Set in the desolate, wintry expanse of Dartmoor—dubbed the "Siberia of the South-West"—the play follows Len West, a disgraced gangster banished from the city for his untrustworthiness. Now staking his claim on the territory of Draycott, a badger-fighting vagrant, West waits in a burned-out farmhouse for the arrival of two former associates. The wine is poured, the revolver is loaded—but something, or someone, lurks upstairs.

When Wally, West’s old partner-in-crime, finally arrives with newcomer Patsy in tow, the past comes knocking. What unfolds is a tense, fast-paced battle of wits, where allegiances are tested, choices must be made, and survival depends on navigating a world where loyalty is as dangerous as betrayal.

Lead Characters


The Winterling guide sections