Inquiry into bold drama production (From News Shopper)

Inquiry into bold drama production

4:00pm Tuesday 20th May 2008 in Stage By Kerry Ann Eustice

An amateur dramatics group tells Kerry Ann Eustice why it is putting on a controversial play about The Hutton Inquiry.

Stepping from classic Shakespeare to controversial, real-life political drama, its fair to say, is quite a bold move for the dramatics group at the Edward Alderton Theatre.

It is the first time Justifying War: Scenes from the Hutton Inquiry, written by Guardian journalist Richard Norton-Taylor, has been performed outside London and by a local theatre group.

"Every word spoken in it really happened. This is real people talking."

Artistic director Mark Campbell took it on because he was keen to try something completely different. He's certainly achieved that.

The moving but formal interview-style of the piece is a far cry from the big cast and pomp of April's Much Ado about Nothing.

"The other day I was looking at a story about Cherie Blair's biography and there was a headline about her using The Hutton Inquiry to show Tony Blair in a good light. So even now it's having ramifications," said Mark.

"It may have been in 2003 but the fact we went into Iraq on the basis of this report, which was then disproven, and David Kelly was the one who said it was wrong, I still think is very relevant."

Despite the staging potentially being as controversial as the inquiry it details, Mark still feels the piece compiled from the Hutton Inquiry transcripts and evidence will be interesting for audiences.

"It's not something we'll necessarily repeat but challenging people's preconceptions is what theatre should be about sometimes."

Besides, presenting surprising drama is what Mark says theatre is for.

"It's not something we'll necessarily repeat but it's what theatre should be about sometimes," he said.

"It's about challenging people's preconceptions and also, what I think is fascinating, every word spoken in it really happened. This is real people talking.

"And it is a real eye-opener of what goes on inside government and the BBC and the spin which happens all the time behind the scenes."

"It's fascinating as a political piece in general. Anyone with any kind of interest in politics hopefully will get something out of it."

Councillors and MPs from local and central government have been invited to see the play but Mark insists it's not solely for politics buffs.

"It's not an anti-labour play or Tory play it's fascinating as a political piece in general. Anyone with any kind of interest in politics hopefully will get something out of it."

May 24 to May 31, Edward Alderton Theatre, Bexleyheath. Call 020 8301 5584.