Description
Private View
by Marc Blake
A billionaire art collector is loaned a priceless painting by a major museum. When it goes missing, the lives and reputations of all those around him start to fall apart.
In a villa on a private island, four people await the arrival of a billionaire art collector – his second wife, his art dealer, an artist in residence and the curator of a national museum who arrives with a priceless painting. When the masterpiece disappears, who is the culprit?
Private View is a 90-minute play about avarice, forgery and the cost of owning art.
“It’s part classic whodunnit, part critique of the elite art world.”
Theatre Weekly.
“Brushstrokes of Brilliance“
Rated reviewed
Running Time: 90 minutes
Performers: 3M 2F
No. of scripts required: 7
Performance Licence: £45.00
Marc Blake is a playwright, author and director. His play Area 52 premiered at the Tristan Bates theatre, How Far is Lunch ran at the Etcetera theatre and Sw1pe was performed at the Tabard, Chiswick. His two-part television drama The Swap was broadcast on ITV. A London Blue badge guide, Marc has also published several novels, Sunstroke, Bigtime and 24 Karat Schmooze (Hodder) as well as several non-fiction books for Bloomsbury.
Ayesha Walker –
Wonderful play, funny thoughtful clever, entertaining!
John Hill –
An entertaining and funny black comedy-mystery play about the rarefied and often secret world of telephone-number art and some of the unscrupulous people who collect it.
SK –
This captivating whodunit explores the exclusive and often secretive world of art collecting where ambition, deception and obsession collide. Filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists, the mystery unfolds as secrets emerge and hidden motives are revealed
MICHAEL STAPLE –
An insightful comedy about the world of super-rich art collectors and launderers. Marc is a writer of many talents who works at the coalface that is the rich and capricious.
Suzi –
★★★★★
A compelling and well-written play with believable characters and an engaging storyline. Thought-provoking, fun and highly entertaining
Paul –
Real depth of character. Real and clear-eyed acknowledgement of the nuances, vagaries, downright delusional hypocracies and probable discrimination within ‘The Art Buying Elite’. Refreshing, biting and essential to anyone interested in Art, The Art World, Art Curation, The Art Market and the price you can put on what you like to look at. The cast really brought the characters and their differing (self-)interests to vivid and believable life.
A landmark achievement for Marc Blake. I salute and celebrate his ongoing writing sophistication.
Mary Kalmus –
The world of art, but not as most of us know it. In his artful whodunnit, Marc Blake looks at the greed and corruption in a world where monetary value has taken the place of beauty. The characters are shrewdly drawn, the drama finely penned, the plot brimming over with subtle twists and turns. A must-read, a must-see.
Christopher Williams –
What a great play, we had a great time. Funny, thoughtful… great characters, and a story with plenty of twists and turns. Loved it!
Don Brown –
I enjoyed this immensely when I saw it performed. A comedic dissection of the art market and the pretensions of art and artists; a complete spectrum of ideas debated and discussed with a light, humorous touch.
Mark Ezra –
A wry, clever and witty look at the 21st century art market. Horribly truthful in its exposure of the rogues, poseurs and scholars who shape our modern tastes. Every bit as biting and perceptive as Yasmina Reza’s ‘Art”.
Chris O’Donnell –
Funny, clever and a story that is also incredibly thoughtful . See it if you can. Buy it if you can’t.
Beccy –
Great play…humour, intrigue, clever dialogue. Entertaining and thought provoking on many levels.
Paul –
A funny, twisty, off-centre take on the country house murder mystery. A great, spare and incisive script whose barbs and fangs and talons are hewn and sharpened to gleaming by a great ensemble cast who clearly relish every every juicy bite. Congratulations them, and congratulations, Marc Blake. A triumph!
Ilana Harris –
A clever, funny play taking a wry look at the art world. Fantastic dialogue and ‘whodunnit’ plot that keeps you guessing. Saw the play being performed, which I loved. A joy!
Emily Dell –
My partner and a I saw this play and were both really taken by it. It took us on a journey through art and its interpretation was explored through the different characters on stage. We were gripped by the pace, the intrigue of the heist and the unpredictable nature of the play. Loved it.
Frances Linzee Gordon –
A great evening at the Greenwich Theatre… Marc’s play was engaging, witty, thought-provoking, & entertaining, with some sparkling dialogue, great characters, & lots of twists & turns & tension… Loved it! A perfect night out. What a talent!