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
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National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
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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,
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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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