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Quiz

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  4w, 7m

James Graham’s kinetic, thrilling play combines the tension of a courtroom with the energy of a game show as a winning contestant on Britain’s Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? stands trial for cheating.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 7m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Two 2019 Olivier Awards, including Best New Comedy

Details

Summary

April 2003. Army Major Charles Ingram, his wife, and a coughing accomplice are convicted for cheating on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

The evidence is damning. The nation is gripped by the sheer audacity of the plot to snatch the £1,000,000 jackpot.

But were they really guilty? It’s time for you to decide.

History
Quiz premiered at the Chichester Festival Theatre’s Minerva Theatre on 10 November 2017. Directed by Daniel Evans with Sean Linnen, the production featured Gavin Spokes, Stephanie Street and Keir Charles. The play later transferred to the West End, where it officially opened at the Noël Coward Theatre on 10 April 2018.

WARM-UP – warm-up comedian
JUDGE RIVLIN – presiding over the case
NICHOLAS HILLIARD QC – barrister for the Crown
SONIA WOODLEY QC – barrister for the Ingrams
CHARLES INGRAM – 38-year-old army major
DIANA INGRAM – 36-year-old quiz fanatic, his wife
TECWEN WHITTOCK – 40s, accused co-conspirator with the Ingrams
MAJOR GENERAL ROBERTS – army officer, MOD
PAUL SMITH – CEO of Celador
ADRIAN POLLOCK – Diana’s brother
QUIZMASTER – a pub quiz host
PADDY SPOONER – frequent contestant on the show
DES O'CONNOR – game show host
JIM BOWEN – game show host
LESLIE CROWTHER – game show host
JOHN DE MOL – TV producer
MARK BURNETT – TV producer
DAVID LIDDIMENT – director of programmes at ITV
CLAUDIA ROSENCRANTZ – commissioner at ITV
DAVID BRIGGS – TV and radio producer
RACHEL DA COSTA – second contestant on the show
PRODUCTION MANAGER – on the show
DS WILLIAMSON – lead investigator on the case
RUTH SETTLE – head of press for the show
ADRIAN WOOLFE – head of marketing for the show
HILDA OGDEN – Coronation Street character
ELSIE TANNER – Coronation Street character
ALYN MORICE – professor of respiratory medicine
Various JOURNALISTS, ARMY OFFICERS, STUDIO TECHNICIANS, PUNTERS, CITIZENS and other minor characters

with
CHRIS TARRANT – TV and radio personality, the host of the quiz show

and finally
AUDIENCE – played by the audience, who become part of the show

  • Time Period New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting A television game show set with a hot seat in the middle. 2001-present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Media

“A whirling, neon wonder that makes for utterly compulsive viewing… Quiz is a winner.” – The Times

★★★★ “Graham has a rare gift for tackling meaty, state-of-the-nation subjects with a popular (never ponderous or patronising) touch and one of his fascinations is with consequences of living in an age of populism. With its mix of populism, personal tragedy, politics, and even a pub quiz, this is sure to be another hit for a playwright on a roll.” – Independent

★★★★ “A whirling, neon wonder that makes for utterly compulsive viewing. Can we truly believe our eyes and ears, or do we only ever see what we want to see? In James Graham’s glittering play you can take your pick from an array of alternative facts, but you might struggle to find the truth among the razzle-dazzle. One thing’s for sure, though… Quiz is a winner.” – The Times

★★★★ “A question of justice becomes nail-biting entertainment and certainty flies out the window. Very neat. Very welcome.” – The Telegraph

★★★★ “Astute and hugely enjoyable… a piercing inquiry into truth and misinformation.” – Financial Times

★★★★★ “What a kinetic, eccentric, furiously exciting show James Graham and his director Daniel Evans have crafted… Quiz is a ruthlessly efficient piece of entertainment that raises an alarm about the dangers of ruthlessly efficient pieces of entertainment.” – Time Out

Videos

  • Quiz – West End Official Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Quiz – West End Official Trailer

  • James Graham on Quiz youtube thumbnail

    James Graham on Quiz

  • Sian Clifford and James Graham Discuss Quiz youtube thumbnail

    Sian Clifford and James Graham Discuss Quiz

  • Quiz – Trailer for TV Adaptation youtube thumbnail

    Quiz – Trailer for TV Adaptation

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £85 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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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 ...

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