Racing Demon A Play

In conflict with government, torn with internal dissension on matters of doctrine and practice, the Church of England finds itself enjoying unwelcome publicity. David Hare's play, which details the struggle of four clergymen to make sense of their mission in South London, opened to universal acclaim. David Harewas born in Sussex, England, in 1947. In 1970, his first play,Slag, was performed at the Hampstead Theatre Club. Since 1983, several of Hare's best-known playsincludingPlenty,The Secret Rapture,Skylight,Racing Demon,The Judas Kiss,Amy's View, andVia Dolorosahave been presented on Broadway. Hare lives in London. Racing Demon, the first installment in David Hare's trilogy about the healthor sicknessof three British institutions, details the struggle of four clergymen to make sense of their mission in South London. A popular British card game where the quick and confident always beat the thoughtful and indecisive, Racing Demon is as a telling metaphor for this play's critique of the leadership valued in contemporary British culture. Hare's trilogy gives us harsh yet well-considered views of the Church of England, the British legal system, Thatcherian politics, and the English press. Alongside this first work in the trilogy,Murmuring Judges(the second play) takes a behind-the-scenes look at Britain's laws, courtrooms, and notions of justice, whileThe Absence of War(the third) examines the life of a Labour Party member. (Hare has also writtenAsking Around, a documentary book that offers the full background on how and why he composed these plays.) "Racing Demonemerges as Hare's compassionate study of the eternal battle between the individual conscience and the institution . . . A great piece of drama."Lyn Gardner,The Guardian

David Hare was born in Sussex, England in 1947. His first play, Slag, was produced in 1970. His other works include Plenty (1978), A Map of the World (1983), and Pravda (1985). A founder of the Portable Theatre and the Joint Stock, he became resident dramatist and literary manager of the Royal Court Theatre, London (1967–71), and at the Nottingham Playhouse (1973). Until recently, Hare served as director of the National Theatre, London. In 1982, Hare founded a film company, Greenpoint Films. He has written several screenplays including Plenty (1985), Weatherby (1985), Strapless (1989), and Damage (1992). Several of his best-known plays, The Secret Rapture, Racing Demon, Skylight, The Judas Kiss, Via Dolorosa and Amy's View have been presented on Broadway.

"Racing Demon emerges as Hare's compassionate study of the eternal battle between the individual conscience and the institution."--Guardian