Playing With Fire

a new play by David Edgar

We used to be a place'd sometimes get to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Now, I mean like for a laugh like, we pick up the phone and say “Good evening, Beirut Hilton”.

When the District Council of Wyverdale fails to satisfy a government audit, New Labour high-flyer Alex is sent north from London to formulate a robust recovery plan. But websites, faith festivals and council leaflets in Bengali seem beside the point to the Labour old guard, struggling to provide the basics to an alienated and divided electorate.

What begins as a metro-versus-retro comedy of misunderstanding soon becomes a chilling drama about multicultural Britain. Racial tensions soar and good intentions have fatal consequences.

David Edgar's plays include Albert Speer at the National, and Destiny and Pentecost for the RSC.

Playing With Fire finished on: 22 October 2005