David Hare's first play at the Royal Court for seven years – The Vertical Hour – will open on 22 January 2008 (previews from 17 January), with Indira Varma in the lead role of Nadia. The production will be directed by Jeremy Herrin, who also directed 2007's hit That Face at the Royal Court.
The production will be designed by Mike Britton, with lighting by Howard Harrison, and sound by Nick Powell.
The Vertical Hour pits personal philosophies against global politics. "It's a choice isn't it? How you live. How you behave. At some point in your life you make your choice. Maybe you don't even remember. Everything conspires to make you forget. But the choice is there. You made it."
Nadia Blye knows exactly what her stance is on Iraq. A former war reporter and Professor of International Relations at Yale, she has advised the President and seen action in Sarajevo and Baghdad. She is sure of her place in the world and her opinion of it.
Until, that is, she meets an equally opinionated and lethally charming man – her boyfriend's father - over a weekend in Shropshire. His intervention has far-reaching consequences for them all.
Indira Varma is probably best known for her roles in television's The Whistleblowers (ITV), Rome (BBC/HBO) Torchwood and Love Soup (both BBC). Her stage appearances have included roles in The Vortex (Donmar), The Skin of Their Teeth (Young Vic), Five Gold Rings (Almeida). Her last appearance at the Royal Court was in the world premiere of Martin Crimp's The Country, in 2000.
David Hare's previous plays for the Royal Court include My Zinc Bed, Via Dolorosa, Teeth 'n' Smiles, and Slag. His other major works include Plenty, Pravda (written with Howard Brenton), Racing Demon, Murmuring Judges, The Absence of War, Skylight, Amy's View, The Permanent Way and Stuff Happens (all National Theatre). He adapted Schnitzler's La Ronde ('The Blue Room') for the Donmar Warehouse.
In 2007, Jeremy Herrin directed Polly Stenham's hugely successful debut play That Face at the Royal Court. He is an Associate Director at Live Theatre Newcastle, where he has specialised in directing new writing. His most recent work has included Statement of Regret, by Kwame Kwei-Armah (National Theatre), and the South African premiere of David Harrower's Blackbird.
Jeremy Herrin's new production for the Royal Court will be the UK premiere of The Vertical Hour. The play was performed on Broadway in 2006, directed by Sam Mendes. -- royalcourttheatre.com
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