It is now or never for George Jones. How will he secure the job of Prime Minister? How will he convince anyone to vote for him? What tie should he wear for Prime Minister’s Questions?
These are all questions explored by the David Hare play, The Absence of War, coming to Kingston next year.
Staged just in time for Britain’s general election in May, the political study will be showing at the Rose Theatre as part of its UK tour in April and is a collaboration between Sheffield Theatres, Headlong and the Rose Theatre.
The contemporary play follows a heavy-smoking, Shakespeare-loving Labour leader, played by Reece Dinsdale, who has three weeks to scoop the role of PM.
Not only is he plagued by hostile media, and haunted by his own demons, but he also has to deal with divisions in his own party.
Hare, a twice Oscar-nominated screenwriter, said: “I’ve been saying there’s a crisis in the Labour Party just as profound as there was in the days of Neil Kinnock, and I think it’s the right moment.”
The play, part of Hare's trilogy which includes Racing Demon and Murmuring Judges, captures the hysteria of the high-pressured 1992 election against an epic personal struggle.
Executive Producer of the Rose, Jerry Gunn said: “Working with these highly respected companies that consistently produce work of an exceedingly high quality and create world class productions is exactly the direction we want to take the Rose.”
The Absence of War; Rose Theatre, High Street, Kingston; April 14-25, 2015; tickets from £5; visit rosetheatrekingston.org for further information.
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