There is a War
Description
A miniature epic that explores the mad savagery of war with biting black comedy, and takes us into the dark heart of a strange and surreal conflict.
As soldiers, priests and scavengers roam a battle-scorched landscape, a young medical officer finds herself abandoned and useless, unable to locate the hospital or even the war she was promised.
Tom Basden's short play There is a War was first performed in a double bill with Prasanna Puwanarajah's Nightwatchman as part of the National Theatre's Double Feature season of paired short plays at the Paintframe, a specially converted space at the National Theatre, London, in July 2011.
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Tom Basden's plays include: an adaptation of Dario Fo and Franca Rame's Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, 2022; Lyric Hammersmith and West End, 2023); The Crocodile, an adaptation of a short story by Dostoyevksy (Manchester International Festival, 2015); Holes (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2013; Arcola Theatre, London, 2014); There is a War (as part of the Double Feature season in the Paintframe at the National Theatre); Joseph K, an adaptation of Kafka's The Trial (Gate Theatre, London) and Party (Fringe First Winner; Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Sydney International Festival/Arts Theatre, London).
He has written for some of Britain's best TV comedies, including Peep Show, Fresh Meat, The Wrong Mans and Plebs, which won Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2013 and Best Scripted Comedy at the RTS Awards 2014. He is also a member of sketch group Cowards, who wrote and performed their own TV series on BBC4.
For Radio 4 he has made two series of Cowards and three series of his sitcom Party, based on his 2009 play.
He has been nominated for a BAFTA three times, and has won a Fringe First and an Edinburgh Comedy Award.
Content
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- Original Production
- There is a War
- Characters
- Scene One
- Scene Two
- Scene Three
- Scene Four
- Scene Five
- Scene Six
- Scene Seven
- Scene Eight
- Scene Nine
- Scene Ten
- About the Author
- Copyright and Performing Rights Information
