Whipping It Up

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Comedy closed 16 June 2007

New Ambassadors Theatre West Street, London

Steve Thompson's acclaimed political comedy Whipping It Up comes to London's West End following an extended sold-out run at The Bush Theatre in West London.

Black ties; cigar smoke; whiskey in cut glass.
Westminster runs the country, but the Whips run Westminster

It's a week before Christmas, and the new Tory government is facing dissent over its latest Bill. With a majority of only three, the Whip's office is out in full force, and they'll stop at nothing to keep the strays in line. But they're in for a long night: boy scouts are rioting in Whitehall, the PM's golfing with the President, five Tory rebels are on the loose and the Chief Whip's playing at Santa - could this be the beginnings of a leadership challenge?

"A pungent satire on the parliamentry whips - a fascinating insight into Westminster power games" The Guardian

Steve Thompson's scandalously funny new play Whipping It Up aims to blow the lid off the Despatch box and reveals the true secrets locked in the Whips' safe.

"The sharpest new comedy of the year" The Daily Telegraph

The cast for Whippig It Up in London's New Ambassadors Theatre features Richard Wilson, Robert Bathurst, Lee Ross, Nicholas Rowe and Helen Schlesinger who are all reprising their roles from the Bush Theatre staging. They are joined by Kellie Bright. This production is directed by Tamara Harvey and the original Bush Theatre production was directed by Terry Johnson

"Smart satire, good jokes and waves of laughter" The Financial Times

"Steve Thompson's comedy is set in a future where David Cameron is Prime Minister. The play, about the workings of the Whip's Office is, at best, as beguiling as a fine episode of Yes, Minister... the script cracks along with the requisite cynicism." The Sunday Telegraph

Richard Wilson - "Hilarious" The Guardian

"Steve Thompson has written a vitriolic political comedy that makes the average alligator pond look like a health spa. Terry Johnson's production is crowned by Richard Wilson's chief Whip: an aging walrus with the political loyalty of a guard dog, and the ethics of a jackal" The Sunday Times

Robert Bathurst - "Magnificent" The Daily Telegraph

"Steve Thompson's characters are neatly delineated with snappy dialogue. Indeed, Whipping It Up looks like the next Yes, Minister. Directed by Terry Johnson, Richard Wilson is splendidly plummy and foulmouthed as the chief whip while Robert Bathurst's Alastair is supersmooth, sparring with his Labour rival." The Independent on Sunday