This House

Description

For the first time, this play - first performed in 2012 at the National Theatre - is published in the Methuen Drama Student Edition series. It features commentary & notes by Nicholas Holden, Lecturer in Drama at the University of Greenwich, UK, that help the student unpack the play's social, political and cultural context, as well as its themes, language, structure and production history. In tough times, the British do what we have always done. We muddle through. This House is a razor-sharp political comedy exploring Westminster and the 1974 British hung parliament, which provides a timely historical correlative to the current political climate. It's the play that secured the then-30-year-old James Graham's reputation as one of the UK's most important and revered dramatists, gaining critical acclaim, enjoying a sell-out run at the National Theatre's Olivier in 2013 and being revived in the West End in 2017, when it was Olivier-nominated. With well-paced, witty and waspish dialogue, it explores the childish digs and chauvinistic attitudes that have riddled political life both then and continue to do so now.

James Graham is a playwright and film and television writer. His work for theatre, film and TV includes This House; Ink; Finding Neverland (with Gary Barlow); Quiz; Sketching; The Culture; Labour of Love; Monster Raving Loony; Caught in a Trap; Coalition; Brexit: An Uncivil War; X and Y; The Vote; The Angry Brigade; Privacy; Sixty Six Books; Basset; The Man; The Whisky Taster; A History of Falling Things; SuddenLossOfDignity.Com; Tory Boyz; Sons of York; Little Madam; Eden's Empire and Albert's Boy. Nicholas Holden is Lecturer in Drama at the University of Greenwich, UK. He specialises in the contemporary British theatre, contemporary playwriting pedagogy and the work of the Royal Court Theatre. He is the co-convenor of the International Playwrights' Symposium.

It recreates, with startling vividness, the madness of life in the Westminster village during five action-filled years ... above all, the play unlocks a whole era. * Guardian * From facts and memoirs Graham shapes a brilliantly exhausting, funny and moving political epic ... another hit is born ... it will last longer than the years it depicts. * The Times * An absorbing, informative and well-contextualised Student Edition of a major play by one of Britain's leading political playwrights ... Graham is the 'go-to' political playwright of his generation and This House deserves to be more widely read and studied. * Chris Megson, Reader in Drama, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK * The breakthrough piece of political theatre in the teens (of the twenty-first century); a new play about British parliament and its traditions; a really strong case-file on the show text and performance ... This is a strong play to have as a Student Edition, both for the play/playwright's profile and for students to have access to. * Sara Freeman, Associate Professor, of Theatre Arts, University of Puget Sound, US * The [play] has scope for exciting multi-role performance as well as a wealth of socio-political research to be uncovered. I think ... that it is also likely to become one of those plays which grows in stature over time ... A study guide is something that I would wholeheartedly recommend ... I could see it becoming a perennial mainstay of Drama teachers, and this edition would go a long way to helping cement that reputation. * Matthew Nichols, Head of Drama at Manchester Grammar School, UK *