This House (Modern Plays)

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This House (Modern Plays) Page 12

by James Graham


  Sally Grocott, in charge of the Association of Former Members of Parliament, was a great source of help, as was Claire Medd of the House of Commons library, and I’m grateful to Stephen Lees for his sharing his immense knowledge on British elections and political stats.

  Finally, I’m grateful for the openness, insight, and kindnesses of Baroness Ann Taylor and Walter Harrison, for reasons that will be obvious.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  The Weatherill Papers held at the University of Kent are a priceless source, as was Mark Darcy’s BBC documentary The Night the Government Fell.

  On whipping during this period and beyond:

  Joe Ashton: Red Rose Blue: The Story of a Good Labour Man

  Ted Graham: From Tyne to Thames via the Usual Channels

  Philip Norton: Dissension in the House of Commons, 1974–79

  Gyles Brandreth: Breaking the Code

  Tim Renton: Chief Whip: People, Power and Patronage in Westminster

  On the House of Commons and parliamentary democracy:

  Robert Rogers and Rhodri Waters: How Parliament Works (6th edition)

  John Biffen: Inside Westminster

  Robert Wilson: The Houses of Parliament

  Philip Norton: The British Polity

  And more general works on the politics of the period:

  Andy Beckett: When the Lights Went Out: Britain in the Seventies

  Dominic Sandbrook: Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain, 1974–1979

  Bernard Donoghue: Conduct of Policy Under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, 1974–79

  Tony Benn: The Benn Diaries

  Alan Clarke: Alan Clark Diaries

  Kevin Hickson and Anthony Seldon: New Labour, Old Labour: The Wilson and Callaghan Governments, 1974–1979

  AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE

  I owe a huge debt to Sebastian Born and Nicholas Hytner for giving me the chance and championing the play from so early on, and to Jeremy Herrin and Ben Power for their invaluable interrogations of the script, along with Samuel Barnett and Ben Hall.

  About the Author

  James Graham won the Catherine Johnson Award for the Best Play 2007 for Eden’s Empire. His previous plays include Albert’s Boy (recipient of a Pearson Playwriting Bursary), Little Madam (Finborough), Tory Boyz (Soho Theatre), A History of Falling Things (Clwyd Theatr Cymru), The Man (Finborough), The Whisky Taster (Bush), Sons of York (Finborough) and Bassett (National Theatre Connections). This House was commissioned by the National Theatre and had its world premiere in 2012. James is writer-in-residence at the Finborough Theatre.

  By the Same Author

  A History of Falling Things

  Albert’s Boy

  Bassett

  in National Theatre Connections 2011

  Eden’s Empire

  The Man

  Tory Boyz

  in Producers’ Choice: Six Plays for Young Performers

  The Whisky Taster

  About the National Theatre

  The National Theatre, where this play had its premiere, is central to the creative life of the UK. In its three theatres on the South Bank in London it presents an eclectic mix of new plays and classics from the world repertoire, with seven or eight productions in repertory at any one time. And through an extensive programme of amplifying activities – Platform Performances, backstage tours, foyer music, publications, exhibitions and outdoor events – it recognises that theatre doesn’t begin and end with the rise and fall of the curtain.

  The National endeavours to maintain and re-energise the great traditions of the British stage and to expand the horizons of audiences and artists alike. It aspires to reflect in its repertoire the diversity of the nation’s culture. It takes a particular responsibility for the creation of new work – offering at the NT Studio a space for research and development for the NT’s stages and the theatre as a whole. Through its Learning Programme, it invites people of all ages to discover the NT’s repertoire, the skills and excitement of theatre-making, and the building itself. As the national theatre, it aims to foster the health of the wider British theatre through policies of collaboration and touring. These activities demonstrate the considerable public benefit provided by the NT, both locally and nationally.

  Between 20 and 26 new productions are staged each year in one of the NT’s three theatres, the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Cottesloe. In 2011–12, the National’s total reach was 2.3 million people worldwide, through attendances on the South Bank, in the West End, on tour and through National Theatre Live, the digital broadcast of live performances to cinema screens all over the world.

  Information:+44(0) 20 7452 3400

  Box Office:+44(0) 20 7452 3000

  National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX

  www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

  Registered Charity No: 224223

  Published by Methuen Drama

  Methuen Drama

  Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  50 Bedford Square

  London WC1B 3DP

  www.methuendrama.com

  This House

  Copyright © James Graham 2012

  James Graham has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work

  ISBN: 978 1 4081 7312 1 (e-book)

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  Available in the USA from Bloomsbury Academic & Professional,

  175 Fifth Avenue/3rd Floor, New York, NY 10010

  Caution

  All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before rehearsals begin to Curtis Brown Group Limited, Haymarket House, 28–29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4SP. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained.

  No rights in incidental music or songs contained in the work are hereby granted and performance rights for any performance/presentation whatsoever must be obtained from the respective copyright owners.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the written permission of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

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