Landscape with Weapon

Description

"'Qualms?' Oh yeah, sure, I have 'qualms'. Everybody has qualms. But I'll overcome them." To his family's horror, Ned reveals he's the brains behind a new military technology so sophisticated, so extraordinary, it will revolutionise the nature of warfare. It's only when the Ministry of Defence demands intellectual ownership that Ned begins to question himself, resisting the might of the weapons industry with frightening consequences. Landscape with Weapon is a wry account of private anguish, public responsibility and a problem with no solution. The play premiered at the National Theatre on 20 March 2007. Joe Penhall's previous work for the National Theatre, Blue/Orange, was the winner of the Olivier Awards Best Play (2001), the Evening Standard Award Best Play (2000), and the Critics Circle Award Best Play (2000).

Joe Penhall is the author of the multi-award-winning play Blue/Orange that premiered at the National Theatre in 2000 before transferring to the West End and Broadway. It has since been produced for the BBC starring Brian Cox. His other recent work includes Dumb Show (Royal Court Theatre, 2004), and the screenplay Enduring Love for Film Four, based on the Ian McEwan novel, which was nominated for two major awards.

'Penhall turns the theatre into a debating chamber in Roger Michell's tense, terrific production. The debate is electrifyingly charged in the performances of Tom Hollander and Julian Rhind-Tutt as the two brothers This is an important and bracing intellectual drama that brilliantly humanises a moral conundrum.' Sunday Express 'Intriguing new play about the moral and psychological implications of the arms trade Penhall shows a subtle feel for the big issues in small settings.' Daily Mail 'Fascinating constantly subtle and engaging Hollander gives an extraordinary portrait of myopic preoccupation and subsequent unravelling. Julian Rhind-Tutt is magnetic, beautifully light verbally and physically Their relationship, finely steered by Roger Michell, solders the play together and makes a crisis into a drama.' Observer 'Joe Penhall's gift for dramatising uncomfortable arguments is again apparent in his powerful new play about the arms industry and the moral responsibility of the scientist. Roger Michell's production does justice to its lithe intelligence, emotional pain and rueful humour. Tom Hollander is excellent The ending is bleakly beautiful.' Independent, Critics' Choice 'Riveting bitterly funny play in which [Penhall] sets the aesthetic world of the creator against the harsh realities of politics. It's a series of debates in which the emotions run deep as the ideas Penhall has a terrific ability to explore moral conundrums dramatically hones in on the argument with accuracy and force'5 STARS / SHOW OF THE WEEK / CRITICS' CHOICE #1 Jane Edwardes, Time Out