Blasted premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London in 1995. Directed by James Macdonald with Pip Donaghy as Ian, Kate Ashfield as Cate and Dermot Kerrigan as the soldier.
Blasted shook London's theatre world with critics unable to handle its violence and energy ("a disgusting piece of filth").
James Macdonald, the producer, says "a short run meant Blasted was seen by not many more than 1,000 people, making it perhaps the least seen and most talked-about play in recent memory. Meanwhile, lying low in Brixton, Sarah received a surprise delivery at 3 p.m. one afternoon. A fan letter from Harold Pinter. Had he popped down to deliver it himself, she wondered, or was it a lackey in shades and gloves?"
In the bedroom of a hotel room Ian, an obnoxious businessman, has Cate for the night. She is down to earth and unused to luxury. Then the soldier enters. The hotel is in Bosnia and the events that follow reflect the pain and suffering that Bosnia endured. Kane uses the viewpoints of both oppressor and victim.
Death. Not being / you fall asleep then you wake up His mother's a lesbos, am I not preferable to that/ perhaps she's a nice person Give us a cig/ why?/ Cause I got a gun and you haven't No God/ Got to be something/ Why?/ Doesn't make sense otherwise/ Doesn't make sense anyway