A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE
This House
Full-Length Play, Drama / 3w, 16m
Image: 2016 West End Production (Tristram Kenton)
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Cast Size
3w, 16m -
Duration
More than 120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Docudrama/History -
Target Audience
Adult
Accolades
- Nominee: Two 2013 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play
Details
Summary
It is 1974 and the UK faces economic crisis and a hung parliament. In a culture hostile to co-operation, votes are won or lost by one, there are fist fights in the bars, and sick MPs are carried through the lobby to register their vote. It’s a time when a staggering number of politicians die, and Parliament creaks under idiosyncrasies and arcane traditions.
Set in the engine rooms of Westminster, James Graham's play strips politics down to the practical realities of those behind the scenes: the whips who roll up their sleeves and, on occasion, bend the rules in order to shepherd and coerce a diverse chorus of MPs within the Mother of all Parliaments.
In May 2019, This House was voted Play of the Decade in Bloomsbury Publishing’s “60 Years of Modern Plays” public vote.
History
Keywords
Performing Groups
- Time Period 1970s
- Setting The Palace of Westminster, 1974-1979.
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Cautions
- Alcohol
- Strong Language
- Smoking
Media
“A thrilling play that both relives history and transcends it.” – The Guardian
“Dazzlingly intelligent, scrupulously well-researched and funny… gives a moving and witty insight into British politics.” – Independent
“Thrilling… In recording the struggle of the Labour government of 1974-79 to simply survive, the play offers a fascinating slice of history… Graham brilliantly captures the daily machinations of politics.” – Michael Billington, The Guardian
“This House, James Graham’s magnificently sharp and witty look at the struggles of the 1974-9 Labour government, is masterful all over again… Both a treat and a triumph, this is a superlative night out in the West End.” – Evening Standard
Videos
This House – Official Trailer, National Theatre at Home
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This House at the Garrick Theatre – West End Trailer
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James Graham on This House – National Theatre at Home
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“One person, one vote” – This House: National Theatre at Home
Photos
Image: 2016 West End Production (Tristram Kenton)
Image: 2016 West End Production (Tristram Kenton)
Licensing & Materials
- Minimum Fee: £85 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
Authors
James Graham
James Graham is a playwright and screenwriter.
His recent work includes the play Dear England, commissioned by the National Theatre, about Gareth Southgate’s transformation of the national team. After a sold-out run at the National in 2023, the play transferred to the West End ...