Playing With Fire

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Play
Closed 22 October 2005

Olivier Theatre (National Theatre)
South Bank, London

Playing With Fire is a new play by David Edgar which is directed by Michael Attenborough.

We used to be a place’d sometimes get to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Now, I mean like for a laugh like, we pick up the phone and say "Good evening, Beirut Hilton".

When the District Council of Wyverdale fails to satisfy a government audit, New Labour high-flyer Alex is sent north from London to formulate a robust recovery plan. But websites, faith festivals and council leaflets in Bengali seem beside the point to the Labour old guard, struggling to provide the basics to an alienated and divided electorate.

What begins as a metro-versus-retro comedy of misunderstanding soon becomes a chilling drama about multicultural Britain. Racial tensions soar and good intentions have fatal consequences.

David Edgar’s plays include Albert Speer at the National, and Destiny and Pentecost for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Performance schedule:
Evenings at 7.30pm: Tue 27, Wed 28, Thu 29, Fri 30 September 2005, Sat 1, Mon 3, Thu 6, Fri 7, Sat 8, Mon 10, Tue 11, Wed 12, Thu 13, Fri 14, Sat 15, Mon 17, Tue 18, Wed 19, Thu 20, Fri 21 and Sat 22 October 2005
Matinees at 2.00pm: Wed 28 September 2005, Sat 1, Sat 8, Wed 12, Sat 15, Wed 19 and Sat 22 October 2005.