Democracy
by Michael Frayn

Name: Democracy
Brand: Michael Frayn
SKU: 9780413773821
Rating: 3.64 (199 reviews)

Highlights

Male

Unit Set/Multiple SettingsBritish

Awards & Recognition

Drama Desk AwardOlivier AwardTony Award

Nominee: 2004 Olivier Award for Best New Play Winner! 2005 Tony®Award for Best Play Winner! 2005 Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play

What readers are saying

Readers generally find the play to be a brilliant exploration of representative democracy and human relationships during the Cold War. Many appreciate Michael Frayn's clever dialogue and the play's depth, although some feel it can be tedious and is best suited for those familiar with the historical context. Overall, it appears to resonate strongly with those interested in political drama, despite a few negative experiences from readers who found it boring or overly intricate.

Clever dialogue and stage designIntriguing historical momentsIntellectually stimulatingEngaging character depthMay feel tedious for some audiences

Synopsis

Three political parties, in and out of bed with each other like drunken intellectuals, fifteen warring cabinet ministers, and sixty million separate egos.

All making deals with each other and breaking them.

All looking round at every moment to see the expression on everyone else's face.

All trying to guess which way everyone else will jump.

All out for themselves and all totally dependent on everyone else.

Not one Germany.

Sixty million separate Germanies.

The tower of Babel!

Set in West Germany in 1969, Democracy follows Willy Brandt as he begins his brief but remarkable career as the first leftofcentre Chancellor for nearly forty years.

Always present but rarely noticed is Günter Guillaume, Brandt's devoted personal assistant and no less devoted in his other role, spying on Brandt for the Stasi.

Published to tie in with major new production at the Royal National Theatre directed by Michael Blakemore starring Roger Allam, Conleth Hill, Nicholas Blane, Jonathan Coy, Christopher Ettridge, Paul Gregory, Glyn Grain, Steven Pacey and David Ryall.