James Fritz lives in London and graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama with an MA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media. Four minutes twelve seconds is his first full-length play and was runner-up for the Soho Theatre's 2013 Verity Bargate Award. His first play, Lines ('a highly promising original debut', The Stage), was produced at the Rosemary Branch Theatre in April 2011and was one of Exeunt magazine's critic's picks of the year.
He says they all do it. These kids, you know, they've got their phones. Film everything. Can't say I blame them. I would at that age.
Seventeen-year-old Jack is the apple of his mother's eye. His parents, Di and David, have devoted their lives to giving him every opportunity they never had. As a result, Jack is smart, outgoing, and well on his way to achieving the grades to study Law at Durham University.
But a startling incident outside the school gates threatens to ruin everything they've striven for: an incident that suggests a deep hatred of their son. As events begin to accelerate, Di and David start to doubt Jack's closest friends, Jack himself, and ultimately themselves - who can they trust?
In a world where smartphones are ubiquitous, James Fritz's deeply provocative and topical drama throws a light on the sorts of insidious opportunities new technology offers - where nothing dies online, except reputation.
Four Minutes Twelve Seconds was runner-up for the Verity Bargate Award in 2013. It received its world premiere at Hampstead Theatre in the Downstairs space on 2 October 2014.