A NEW production by a Chester theatre company will bring a hard-hitting, funny and poignant tale to the stage in October.
Set in the era of the Thatcher government, Hansard by Simon Woods is set to run at The Salisbury Studio at Chester Little Theatre from Wednesday, October 9, until Saturday, October 12 at 7.30pm, with a matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday.
The play, which is being staged by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French, will be directed for Against The Grain by Stuart Evans.
Set in the summer of 1988 against the background of the introduction of 'Section 28', a controversial piece of legislation drawn up by Thatcher's government which outlawed the promotion and teaching of acceptability of homosexuality by local authorities in schools, libraries and other public places, Hansard tells the story of Tory MP and junior cabinet minister Robin Hesketh who returns home from Parliament to spend the weekend at his house in the Cotswolds which he shares with Diana, his wife of 30 years.
Diana has a hangover, a fox is destroying the garden and secrets are being dug up all over place. As the day progresses, what begins as all too familiar marital sparring turns into a blood sport.
Described as "acerbic, waspishly funny and very moving", Hansard premiered at The National Theatre in 2019. Against The Grain's production at Chester Little Theatre will feature Chester based actors Mark Newman and Marian Newman as Robin and Diana.
Director Stuart Evans said: “This play is like a game of tennis but with words, stories and memories shared. Robin and Diana are constantly hitting back at each other with sometimes scathing responses sometimes hilariously funny and others that are just mean.
“They try to 'top trump' each other the whole time along with teasing and striking nerves. But is Diana’s final shot the winning shot with a story that has never been shared before? Who will get the next point? What’s great about the play is that it’s set in real time, two actors, no scene changes, one room, one set, one act and hundreds of emotions.”
Full details of Hansard can be found at www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestertheatreclub where tickets can be booked online.
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