Marion turned her MA thesis into her first performed play, Mr Bennett and Miss Smith  (Old  Red Lion, Arts Council Theatre Award) about Arnold Bennett and the South African author Pauline Smith, using their letters - Bennett stuttered and Smith was silenced by severe facial neuralgia - ‘precise and evocative production’ (The Guardian)

Her play The Crystal Den about the life of Eleanor Marx and her suicide was commissioned and produced at the New End Theatre supported by the Jewish Book Council, London, (methuen/drama)

The Story of an African Farm, is Marion’s radical interpretation of the classic novel by Olive Schreiner,  co-produced with The Young Vic Studio, London (methuen/drama –‘a clever and cohesive dramatisation ... Brilliant!’ Myer Taub Market Theatre, Johannesburg), broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as a mini-serial.

Her next play Winnie is about Winnie Mandela and her daughter when under house arrest together in a remote township, celebrating their courage and dignity (Bristol Theatre Express, Arts Council touring grant, finalist,Verity Bargate Award.

Louis/lui, is about the radical philosopher Louis Althuser’s mystery- murder of his wife in college, Arts Council Writer’s Bursary (published in Bottled Notes from Underground)

Mafeking/Mafikeng (New Playwright’s Festival) was produced for the Imperial War Museum Theatre, for Black Africa Month

Her political play Elephant in a Rhubarb Tree (Etcetera Theatre, was commissioned by Louder than Words) -‘Beautiful poetry, fearlessly experimental, endlessly inventive, frequently inspired’’ (City Limits)   .
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                                 Edited  collections of plays

Plays by Mediterranean Women (Aurora Metro Press) was made after Marion received a British Council Travel Award to  the Women's Peace Conference in Israel.

Echoes of Israel: Contemporary Drama (Loki Books)
Bottled Notes from Underground: Contemporary plays by Jewish Writers co-edited with Sonja Linden (Loki Books)

                  Theatre reviews

‘Beautiful poetry, fearlessly experimental, endlessly inventive and frequently inspired (City Limits)
‘Bitingly satirical…as powerful a comment on social convention as is to be found anywhere on the London stage.’ (What’s On)
‘Marion Baraitser allows each character’s flawed humanity to shine through, without sacrificing the richness of the era's intellectual climate.'    (Rachel Halliburton on The Crystal Den.   Evening Standard  2-stars = very good)
‘Teams with good ideas.’ (Lynne Gardner, ‘The Story of an African Farm’)
‘Packs a punch.’ ( The Story of an African Farm,’ Time Out)
‘Marion Baraitser’s intelligent meaty new play offers a fascinating insight’  (The Stage)
‘An outstanding success.’ (Camden New Journal)
‘Beautifully atmospheric and intelligent piece of work.’ (Bush )
‘An intelligent treatment of a fine novel.’ (Haymarket Theatre)
‘Extremely atmospheric and affecting—a huge influence of Athol Fugard.’ (Royal Exchange on The Story of an African Farm).  ‘A sophisticated and subtle piece of writing’ on The Crystal Den.

 

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