The word ‘gaslight’ has become embedded in popular culture. As a verb, it is generally taken to refer to the act of psychologically manipulating someone into doubting their own sanity. However, it is likely that many people who use the term are unaware that it comes from the title of Patrick Hamilton’s play Gaslight, first performed in 1938. The play offers an audience a rich theatrical experience, and offers the student of literature an opportunity to explore not only the essential elements of drama, but also gender issues, the different social and cultural contexts of a sharply represented period of history, and elements of other literary genres such as crime writing and mystery.
Patrick Hamilton is one of those interesting authors who is constantly being ‘rediscovered’ or, just as frequently, spoken of as ‘neglected’. This is in some ways rather odd: new editions of his novels regularly appear, as do new productions of his plays. In 2021, one of his novels, The Midnight Bell, was performed as a ballet at Sadler’s Wells.
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