The Permanent Way - David Hare

Wednesday 22nd - Saturday 25th July 2009

The Crescent Theatre, Brindleyplace, Birmingham

Tickets £8.50

0121 643 5858

www.crescent-theatre.co.uk

In 1991, before an election they did not expect to win, the Conservative Government made a fateful decision to privatise the railways.

In The Permanent Way 'our greatest living political playwright' David Hare gathers together the first hand accounts of those most intimately involved, highlighting in particular the elevation of profit above safety that led to a succession of disasters at Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield and Potters Bar.

Funny, tragic and compelling, the play offers an extraordinary parable of British mismanagement that raises questions about the recent history of our country. Members of 'Birmingham's critically acclaimed Stage2' portray the passengers, politicians, executives, experts, decision makers, rail workers, survivors and bereaved in this powerful and perceptive play.

'Britain, yeah, beautiful country, shame we can't run a railway'

This play was originally performed at The National Theatre in 2004. It offers an exploration of the Conservative Government's railway privatisation, from the early '90s to the early '00s and the resulting crashes and public enquiries that followed. Put together from a series of interviews and meetings, this play takes a documentary-style look at the issues raised, with first hand accounts of many of those involved. All the characters in this play are real, from all walks of life, and experienced (many first hand) the disasters at Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield and Potters Bar whilst the bereaved search for justice in this physical, tragic and compelling production.

'So yeah, really it was just a case of wanting to know if there were other people like me'

A cast of over 60, ages ranging from 9 to 20, portray the passengers, politicians, executives, experts, decision makers, rail workers, survivors and the bereaved and we examine mismanagement surrounding our railway system. Questions are raised about the recent history of Britain and the culture of putting profit above safety.

'By understanding what each of us had been through and needing to know why'

Stage2's version uses colour coordination of black, white, blue and orange; as well as using two trucks, which will be wheeled on and off stage carrying cast members. Stage2 will also add another dimension to this production with the use of projection, in addition to a soundtrack that creates an atmosphere and intensity of the train.