Red Ladder Theatre Company presents The Thing About Psychopaths, a new play from Scottish-Ghanaian writer Ben Tagoe, which explores empathy in a capitalist society.
This new play about power and empathy comes to Bolton Octagon later in April, Salford’s Lowry the following week and later in the spring, Liverpool’s Lantern venue.
In 2000 Tagoe spent a brief period on remand in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin: “It was badly overcrowded with prisoners locked up for 22 hours a day and still 'slopping out.’
"I've always thought that the ability to genuinely care about weaker beings is the thing that separates humans from other animals. However in a prison, you soon learn that empathy is dangerous because it leaves you exposed.
"Similarly, all that really matters to a big company is revenue. The most successful people in both those environments have superficial charm, guile and ruthlessness. In our society, whether you're at the top or the bottom, a lack of empathy helps you to succeed.”
The Thing About Psychopaths is recommended for ages 14 and over and will be at the Octagon on Thursday Friday April 11-12.