Blasted: The Life and Death of Sarah Kane

Dan Rebellato explores the life and work of playwright Sarah Kane, who caused controversy with her first play, Blasted, before committing suicide aged just 28. Blasted, which dealt with the horrors of the Balkan conflict, was described by one critic as a 'disgusting feast of filth', and its scenes of extreme violence, including rape and cannibalism, led to Kane being pilloried in the press. However, it is now considered by some to be a modern classic, with performances put on all over the world. Kane's work is credited with fundamentally changing British theatre, yet, after Blasted, she wrote just four more plays. Her final work, 4.48 Psychosis, was a meditation on mental illness. She killed herself just days after its completion. The programme features interviews with those who knew Sarah Kane, including her brother Simon, her agent Mel Kenyon, director James MacDonald and playwright Mark Ravenhill.