A Kind of Alaska

"A Kind of Alaska" is a one-act play written by British playwright Harold Pinter in 1982. The story centers on Deborah, a middle-aged woman who has been in a comatose state for thirty years due to encephalitis lethargica, also known as "sleepy sickness." After waking up, her mind remains that of a sixteen-year-old, forcing her to grapple with the reality of an aged body she did not anticipate. Her sister Pauline and Pauline's husband Hornby, who has been Deborah's long-time doctor, attempt to gently reintroduce her to the changed world while withholding some harsh truths.

Deborah’s awakening leads her to confront shocking revelations about her family and their lives. Despite these challenges, she concludes the play with an ironic yet pragmatic acceptance of the reality presented to her by Pauline and Hornby. The play was inspired by neurologist Oliver Sacks' book *Awakenings*, which documented real cases of individuals emerging from long-term comas.

First performed on October 14, 1982, at London's Cottesloe Theatre as part of Pinter's trilogy "Other Places," the original cast included Judi Dench as Deborah. The play was revived in April 2012 by the Bristol Old Vic, paired with Samuel Beckett's *Krapp's Last Tape*, with Marion Bailey playing Deborah.

Pinter’s work is documented in various editions of his plays, including "Other Places: Four Plays" and "Other Places: Three Plays," both of which include *A Kind of Alaska*.