Mike Bartlett's punchy play takes a lively, candid look at one man's sexuality and the difficulties that arise when you realize you have a choice. With carefully poised dialectics, Cock explores ambivalence in love and human nature through a nexus of emotions, relations and choices. Stripping back the whole drama to its essential language only, this is a masterpiece of strong characters and well-crafted dialogue.

Publication of this play coincided with its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre, London in November 2009.