The Atheist (play)

The Atheist is a one-man play written and performed by Irish actor Tom Green. The play premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival in 2006 and has since toured extensively internationally.

The play focuses on Augustine Early, a morally bankrupt journalist whose insatiable ambition and lack of ethical boundaries lead him to exploit and ruin the lives of those around him in his pursuit of career advancement. Augustine rationalizes his behavior through a cynical and nihilistic worldview, claiming to be an atheist and rejecting traditional moral codes.

Through a darkly comedic monologue, Augustine recounts a series of increasingly disturbing events, revealing his manipulative tactics, betrayals, and ultimately, his descent into isolation. The play explores themes of morality, ambition, the corrosive nature of power, and the consequences of unchecked egoism. It examines the idea of whether morality requires religion, or if a secular ethical framework is sufficient to guide behavior.

The Atheist is known for its fast-paced delivery, sharp wit, and morally ambiguous protagonist, forcing the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and the potential for corruption within individuals and institutions. While Augustine identifies as an atheist, the play does not present a simple argument for or against atheism; rather, it uses the character's self-professed lack of belief as a lens through which to examine his deeply flawed character and destructive actions.