Overview

'You think the world owes you something and it doesn't. You don't inherit your chance, you earn it. And I'm earning it. I take my shots, and it's not our fault you keep missing yours.' T is the new summer hire at Cafarelli & Sons, an iconic New York butcher, but life in a messy cutting room isn't glamorous. She quickly discovers that no-nonsense boss Paula is fighting to hold her struggling business together. When the season ends, someone's for the chop. With the American Dream of a better life hanging in the balance, JD and Billy find themselves pitted against each other, each determined to secure their future. Around them, David and T are drawn into shifting alliances and fractured loyalties. But how far will they go to survive? The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights carves into the dark underbelly of America's anti-immigration policies and the brutal sacrifices that drive the pursuit of prosperity. Winner of the 2024 Papatango New Writing Prize from a record-breaking 1,589 submissions, Hannah Doran's searing play was first performed at Park Theatre, London, in 2025, directed by Papatango's Artistic Director George Turvey. Previous Prize discoveries have won Olivier, Critics' Circle and OffWestEnd Awards and received productions in thirty-three countries. 'A compelling American nightmare... Hannah Doran's script is urgent and impressively immersed in the grain of blue-collar New York life... a perfect storm of pressure' — London Standard 'Impressive... TV's The Bear meets Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge... an accomplished, richly drawn, debut work, with a plot as meaty as its set and a clear message about social injustice throbbing in its veins' — The Stage 'Vigorous... alive and energetic... a playwright of promise' — Guardian 'Enthralling and totally convincing... Doran's knack for world-building and character is clear from the off... a modern A View from the Bridge... Doran's gutsy play carves out a vital question: who is really allowed to dream in America?' — WhatsOnStage 'A fantastic new drama, gripping from the get go... dripping in tension... a brilliant and impressive debut from Doran. Fiercely dark and shocking in equal measure, this is not one to miss' — Theatre & Tonic 'Devastating... Doran successfully blends the personal, the political, and the sociological in a piece that balances amusement with deeper reflection. Meat Kings is funny. It's also genuinely harrowing' — Broadway World 'A gripping new drama that slices through the American Dream with surgical precision... a masterclass in tension, character, and social commentary... Doran's script is a tightly-wound coil of ambition, desperation and betrayal, and one where every character is vivid and richly drawn... It's a darkly comic and emotionally raw piece that keeps the audience on tenterhooks, with twists and turns that rival the best reality TV. Think The Traitors, but with real knives and higher stakes' — Theatre Weekly

Full Product Details

9781839044229

Table of Contents

Reviews

'A compelling American nightmare... Hannah Doran's script is urgent and impressively immersed in the grain of blue-collar New York life... a perfect storm of pressure' * London Standard * 'Impressive... TV's The Bear meets Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge... an accomplished, richly drawn, debut work, with a plot as meaty as its set and a clear message about social injustice throbbing in its veins' * The Stage * 'Vigorous... alive and energetic... a playwright of promise' * Guardian * 'Enthralling and totally convincing... Doran's knack for world-building and character is clear from the off... a modern A View from the Bridge... Doran's gutsy play carves out a vital question: who is really allowed to dream in America?' * WhatsOnStage * 'A fantastic new drama, gripping from the get go... dripping in tension... a brilliant and impressive debut from Doran. Fiercely dark and shocking in equal measure, this is not one to miss' * Theatre & Tonic * 'Devastating... Doran successfully blends the personal, the political, and the sociological in a piece that balances amusement with deeper reflection. Meat Kings is funny. It's also genuinely harrowing' * Broadway World * 'A gripping new drama that slices through the American Dream with surgical precision... a masterclass in tension, character, and social commentary... Doran's script is a tightly-wound coil of ambition, desperation and betrayal, and one where every character is vivid and richly drawn... It's a darkly comic and emotionally raw piece that keeps the audience on tenterhooks, with twists and turns that rival the best reality TV. Think The Traitors, but with real knives and higher stakes' * Theatre Weekly * 'A harsh but honest tale of blue-collar underdogs... hits the mark perfectly... a brilliantly executed tale that drips with blood, sweat and toil' * West End Best Friend * 'A fantastic tale... Hannah Doran's script is efficient, heartfelt, and driven with a ferocious energy... a play that feels necessary, timely, and deserves to be transferred to New York and beyond' * Reviews Hub * 'Refreshingly original, imaginatively crafted, sharply observed, and utterly believable... Doran has a glittering career ahead' * LondonTheatre1 *

'Impressive... TV's The Bear meets Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge... an accomplished, richly drawn, debut work, with a plot as meaty as its set and a clear message about social injustice throbbing in its veins' * The Stage * 'Enthralling and totally convincing... Doran's knack for world-building and character is clear from the off... a modern A View from the Bridge... Doran's gutsy play carves out a vital question: who is really allowed to dream in America?' * WhatsOnStage * 'A gripping new drama that slices through the American Dream with surgical precision... a masterclass in tension, character, and social commentary... Doran's script is a tightly-wound coil of ambition, desperation and betrayal, and one where every character is vivid and richly drawn... It's a darkly comic and emotionally raw piece that keeps the audience on tenterhooks, with twists and turns that rival the best reality TV. Think The Traitors, but with real knives and higher stakes' * Theatre Weekly *

Author Information

Hannah Doran is a British-Irish playwright and screenwriter whose work has been developed and workshopped in the UK, US and Australia.  Her play The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights (Park Theatre, London, 2025) won the 2024 Papatango New Writing Prize.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available