The Pillowman

A man, a writer of short stories, is held in police custody in a totalitarian state. He doesn't know why he is being held but assumes it must be something to do with his writing. Many of his stories involve children being killed and tortured. His brother, who has learning difficulties, is also being held. As the play unfolds the police tell him that someone is enacting the stories. He assumes he is being set up and will be killed but then we find his brother, who is retarded, has been carrying out the killings . . .