A play that challenges conventions of violence

Julia Cho's taut drama makes its New York premiere, following its South Coast Repertory in 2016. Tackling the all-too-real threat of on-campus violence, Office Hour asks the audience to empathize with two very different characters; the college lecturer and a troubled student whose violent essays have flagged up concern by both staff and students alike. A prolific playwright, Cho's previous works include Durango, Satellites and 99 Histories, along with her work on Grey's Anatomy. This new production will be directed by Neel Keller.

What is it about?

With casting for the New York production yet to be announced, the original role of the lecturer was played by Sandra Oh. We follow the tense interactions between a disturbing (or disturbed) male student, who sits at the back of the hall, isolated and stand-offish. With concerns raised over his violent creative writing projects, she invites him to meet with her during office hours, one on one.

Rather than writing him off as an oddball, or calling the police, she attempts to discover the person behind the sunglasses and low-slung cap. What transpires during their fraught meeting shakes up the normal convention of good or evil; but what is troubling this young man so much, that he vents such disturbing prose?