BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE T-SHIRT 

A Cult Film T-Shirt Available In Black Cotton.

Few British dramas have provoked as much unease as Dennis Potter’s Brimstone and Treacle. First penned as a TV play in 1976, the script was considered too disturbing to broadcast and promptly banned by the BBC. When it finally surfaced in 1982 as a feature film, it arrived with the weight of controversy, scandal, and fascination.

At its heart lies the story of Martin Taylor (played with unnerving charm by Sting), a mysterious stranger who insinuates himself into the troubled household of a suburban couple. Their daughter lies incapacitated after an accident, her future uncertain. Martin presents himself as a helper, a saviour even — but his motives are sinister, his actions shocking.

“I like to put my finger on the wound and keep pressing.” – Dennis Potter

Blending social realism with allegorical menace, Brimstone and Treacle is Dennis Potter at his most dangerous: probing the hypocrisy of middle-class morality, the blurred lines between faith and evil, and the terrible truths lurking beneath polite domestic façades. The 1982 film, directed by Richard Loncraine, retains Potter’s ferocity, propelled by an unforgettable soundtrack from The Police and The Go-Go’s.

This Brimstone And Treacle T-Shirt captures the cult legacy of a play once considered unfilmable. More than just a piece of merchandise, it’s a badge of recognition for those who dare to tread where British drama collided with the grotesque, the poetic, and the profoundly unsettling.

Perfect for admirers of Dennis Potter, cult cinema devotees, and anyone fascinated by the strange meeting point of faith, sin, and suburban dread.

💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Q1: What is Brimstone and Treacle about?
A1: It tells the story of a sinister stranger who enters the home of a suburban couple caring for their disabled daughter, exploring themes of evil, faith, and repression.

Q2: Why was the original play controversial?
A2: Written for the BBC in 1976, it was deemed too shocking for broadcast due to its disturbing subject matter and was banned until the 1980s.

Q3: Who starred in the 1982 film adaptation?
A3: The film starred Sting as Martin Taylor, alongside Denholm Elliott and Joan Plowright, with direction by Richard Loncraine.