Lilwen Faulkner on new play Five
We live in an era obsessed with the macabre. From chart-topping podcasts to binge-worthy docu-series, our fascination with “the killer” has never been higher. But what happens when the story bites back? In the tension-fueled two-hander FIVE, writer and director Lilwen Faulkner peels back the layers of true-crime sensationalism to reveal a raw, dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Set in the intimate confines of the Lion & Unicorn Theatre, FIVE isn’t just a play about a crime, it’s a dissection of power, desperation, and the cost of a “good story.” We sat down with Lilwen to discuss the dark humour, the psychological toll of the script, and why we just can’t seem to look away.
Great to meet you Lilwen. Perhaps the first thing we should ask is, are you a fan of true crime podcasts and docu-series then?
I would say I am a true crime fan, but only when it’s done right. Recently, I started looking deeper into my discomfort with the way we sensationalise true crime and get obsessed with the killers without caring about the victims. That’s how Five came about – asking why we love true crime and what that says about us.
FIVE is an intimate two-hander exploring power and control. What drew you to the two-person format for this specific story, and how does it help heighten the tension between the Host and the Killer?
The two-hander format means there’s no way of escaping that intense dynamic. It also helps to heighten that feeling of folie a deux – they’re both so wrapped up in what’s going on and so are we, because there’s no world or reality outside the prison room they share over those five interviews. That really heightens the tension and allows us to feel swept up in everything that’s going on.
The play is a “deconstruction of true crime sensationalism.” What inspired you to look at the darker side of our cultural obsession with serial killers and podcasts?
In the first instance, the Monsters series by Ryan Murphy was what drew me to this subject. Then, YouTubers started taking true crime shows on tour, and I just felt like someone had to write something about it! But I wanted to ensure that what I wrote was intriguing and character-driven, instead of being didactic or preachy in any kind of way.
When writing a play about a notorious killer, how much of your process involved researching real true-crime cases versus creating a fictionalised psychological profile?
As someone who’s always been intrigued by true-crime cases, research was such an interesting part of the process, especially doing it ethically. The Killer is an amalgamation of a few different cases, as well as an exaggeration of a messed-up attachment style. His profile is very much fictionalised, as the play lives in a Hannibal-esque (the TV series!) heightened world of straitjackets and power play.
How do you balance the roles of writer and director, are there times you look for an external eye to ensure you aren’t missing anything?
I’m very aware of the need for an impartial external eye in the creative process, which is why I’m super excited to be working with Michael Howard as my Assistant Director. He’ll be there to let me know if I’m being too self-indulgent with anything!
What makes the Lion & Unicorn the right space for the “high-impact” atmosphere of FIVE?
The Lion & Unicorn Theatre is the perfect space for Five because it’s so intimate that there’s no escape! The thrust setup also makes Five a much more immersive experience, because the actors are just centimetres away from the audience, and will be watched from all angles.
The play questions how obsession can change us. What do you hope the audience is questioning about their own media consumption as they leave the theatre?
I’d hope the audience would leave questioning their own relationship with true crime and how they consume it. I would also like to think they’d go away debating who had the power and who was in the wrong the whole time. It’s such a fun piece in that way, because it’s never preachy in communicating a message, but it leaves you questioning whether there’s something messed up about the world of fandom and obsession around true crime.
Our thanks to Lilwen for his time to chat with us. Five plays at Kentish Town’s Lion and Unicorn Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 May.
