Democracy (2003)
| Synopsis | The Production | Photographs | Reviews |
|---|
Synopsis
Democracy takes us into a world of political intrigue, espionage and betrayal . Based on real life events during the final months in office of the charismatic West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, this political tale unfolds as suspicions rise of a Stasi spy infiltrating his inner circle. Tensions mount as Brandt’s precarious coalition government is pushed to its limits.
Text from 2012 Revial of the play at the Old Vic.
Announcements:
Casting Announcement at What’s On Stage.
Publicity:
Interview with Michael Frayn about Democracy, hosted at the National Theatre.
Interview with Michael Frayn about the historical events behind the play, from The Guardian, 6 September, 2003.
About Michael Frayn:
Image: Getty, New Statesman
Michael Frayn’s other plays include Noises Off, The Two of Us, Alphabetical Order, Donkeys’ Years, Clouds, Balmoral, Make or Break, Benefactors, Copenhagen and Afterlife.
He has also published eleven novels, including Skios and Spies which won the Whitbread Novel Award, and has written several screen plays including Clockwise starring John Cleese.
Text from 2012 Revial of the play at the Old Vic.
Poster
Still available from the National Theatre
The Production
Michael Frayn’s Democracy was winner of the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle best play awards, and nominated for an Olivier Award in 2003.
Roger Allam received an Olivier nomination for Best Actor.
Programme
Democracy premiered, in this production at the National Theatre (Cottesloe), on 9 September, 2003 (previews from 30 August). It played until 30 December, 2003.
Democracy is a play in two acts. Sessions were approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, with one 20 minute interval. Times: Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00pm, Sunday at 3:00pm. Tickets were £10 – £25.
Cast and Creatives:
| CAST | CHARACTER |
|---|---|
| Roger Allam | Willy Brandt |
| Conleth Hill | Günter Guillaume |
| Nicholas Blane | Hans-Dietrich Genscher |
| Paul Boughton | Ulrich Bauhaus |
| Jonathan Coy | Horst Ehmke |
| Christopher Ettridge | Günther Nollau |
| Glyn Grain | Helmut Schmidt |
| Paul Gregory | Reinhard Wilke |
| Steven Pacey | Arno Kretschmann |
| David Ryall | Herbert Wehner |
| CREATIVES | |
|---|---|
| Writer | Michael Frayn |
| Director | Michael Blakemore |
| Set Design | Peter J Davison |
| Lighting Design | Mark Henderson |
| Sound Design | Neil Alexander |
| Costume Design | Sue Willmington |
| Company Voice Work | Patsy Rodenburg |
Photographs
Space dictates that we have only included photos featuring Steven Pacey.
Production Photographs:
Conleth Hill and Steven Pacey
Conleth Hill and Steven Pacey in Democracy
Photograph: Robbie Jack, available from Corbis.
Conleth Hill and Steven Pacey in Democracy
Photograph: Marilyn Kingwill, available from TopFoto.
Steven Pacey as Arno Democracy
Photograph: Marilyn Kingwill, available from TopFoto.
Two additional Photographs from Geraint Lewis, taken 9 September, 2003:
Conleth Hill and Steven Pacey
Conleth Hill and Steven Pacey
Rehearsal Photographs:
Steven Pacey
Photograph: Conrad Blakemore (from Theatre Programme)
Reviews
“With strong support from … Steven Pacey as Guillaume’s control”
Charles Spencer, The Telegraph
“the smoothly fanatic spymaster played by Steven Pacey”
Benedict Nightingale, NY Times
“pale, humorless controller, well played by Steven Pacey”
Theatrepro.com
Photograph: The Guardian
| DATE | SOURCE | REVIEWER | STAR RATING |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 September | Londong Theatre Archive | Alan Bird | not rated |
| 7 September | The Observer | Neal Ascherson | not rated |
| 10 September | What’s On Stage | Reaction to Press Night | not rated |
| 10 September | The Guardian | Michael Billington | **** |
| 10 September | The Daily Mail (no longer available online) |
Michael Coveny | not rated |
| 11 September | The Telegraph | Charles Spencer | not rated |
| 11 September | The Independent (no longer available online) |
Paul Taylor | not rated |
| 12 September | BBC Newsnight Download VIDEO |
discussion panel | not rated |
| 14 September | The Independent on Sunday (no longer available online) |
Johann Hari | not rated |
| 14 September | The Sunday Times (no longer available online) |
Victoria Segal | not rated |
| 20 September | Curtain Up | Lizzie Loveridge | not rated |
| 22 September | Newsweek International Vol. 142 Issue 12, p70 (no longer available online) |
Tara Pepper | not rated |
| 23 September | Playbill | Robert Simonson | not rated |
| 27 September | The Spectator | Toby Young | not rated |
| 28 September | NY Times | Benedict Nightingale | not rated |
| 29 September | The New Yorker | John Lahr | not rated |
| 18 October | Theatre Journal Volume 56, Number 2, May 2004, pp. 308-309 |
Peter B. Young | not rated |
| 30 November | Washington Post (no longer available online) |
Peter Marks | not rated |
| undated | Theatreguide London | Gerald Berkowitz | not rated |
| undated | British Theatre Guide | Philip Fisher | not rated |
