The Silence of Snow: The Life of Patrick Hamilton

The true story of the author of The Midnight Bell…

Mark Farrelly’s riveting, kinetic solo theatre play portrays the life of one of the great English writers of the inter-war years, who gave us the term ‘gaslighting’, meaning to manipulate a person’s sense of reality.

Patrick Hamilton (1904 – 1962) was a dazzling success whilst still in his twenties, producing hit plays Rope and Gaslight, and classic novels The Midnight Bell, Hangover Square and The Slaves of Solitude.

But he was also an alcoholic, whose wit became increasingly mordant as his inner and outer worlds collapsed. Covering the entire sweep of Hamilton’s turbulent life, The Silence of Snow has gripped audiences wherever it has been performed.

An arresting blend of original writing and extracts from Hamilton’s finest works, the play is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of not confronting one’s own inner chaos. It is also a hugely witty and engaging tribute to a great English writer.