Noises Off

Both Poppy, supported by Dotty, and Brooke, supported by Belinda, are rivals for Lloyd’s attention. What do these factions add to the play’s satirical presentation of theatrical life and relationships?

Choose a character and examine how their offstage romances mirror and diverge from the scripted romances in Nothing On, especially as the play progresses. How does this add to the farce?

Watch the 1992 film version of Noises Off. What do the differences between the film and the original highlight to you about the setting and details of the 1982 play, especially the ways the British social and cultural context informs its comedy?