Machinal // Trifles: A Double Bill – Assistant Photographer

19:00, Tue 19th – Sat 23rd May 2026 at Corpus Playroom

Machinal: A young woman begins as a cog in the system – yet she immediately seems at odds with the mechanical world around her (of machines, spreadsheets, and industry). Through a series of disjointed vignettes, we see how the system moulds her against her will until she “snaps”, “murdering” her “husband”, standing trial, until death. The world around turns in on her, with cathartic pride for her demise. Everything will be okay, though. Everything is fine. Everything.

Trifles: A group of men investigate a murder. Their wives, Mrs Halle and Mrs Peters, have their concerns and observations written off as “trifles”, as they aren’t real detectives – I mean, how could they be! They’re women! However, through empathising with the murderer, and empathising with the objects in the room, they come to understand what happened, and why. They resolve to try and save the accused, becoming an implicit “jury of women” (God believes she needs it).

In this punchy double bill, Machinal and Trifles are presented back-to-back, feeding off of each other to create a whirwild of accusation and passion. Performed on the same set, with the same music, truths will come to light (or be buried even further...)