Full casting is announced for David Edgar’s fiercely topical new play, The New Real which runs in the RSC’s The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon between Thursday 3 October and Saturday 2 November 2024. Directed by Holly Race Roughan (Artistic Director of Headlong) this is the tenth of David’s plays to be premiered by the RSC.
Opening just ahead of this year’s US election in a world where populist leaders are transforming the political landscape, The New Real explores the battle between mainstream politics and a new national-populist Right.
The full cast comprises: Daon Broni (Don/Justin), Edyta Budnik (Natalia), Ziggy Heath (Oleg), Roderick Hill (Petr Lutsevic), Patrycja Kujawska (Liudmilla Bezborodko), Martina Laird (Rachel Moss), Jodie McNee (Caro Wheeler), Lloyd Owen (Larry Yeates) and Sergo Vares (Zhudov).
Set during presidential elections in a former communist Eastern European country, The New Real sees two American political strategists engaged in a grudge match far from home, working for competing candidates, and redrawing the political faultline. They think they’ve come to teach the East how to do elections, but is the learning the other way around? And will what they’ve learned spread to Western Europe, Britain and America? An origin story of the contemporary political scene, Edgar’s panoramic play explores the wider themes of how political and personal ideals are expressed, challenged and betrayed.
In July Edgar co-authored (with political commentator Jon Bloomfield), The Little Black Book of the Populist Right (Byline Books) which describes and analyses much of the factual background of The New Real.
Talking about The New Real, David Edgar said: “Following the success of Marine le Pen’s National Rally and other national-populist parties in mainland Europe, the rise of the Reform Party in Britain, and the possibility of a second Trump term, a play about the rise of national populism couldn’t be more timely. I’m delighted that the play is being premiered in Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey’s first season at the RSC, in the 50th anniversary year of The Other Place, and directed by Headlong’s groundbreaking Artistic Director Holly Race Roughan. Critic Michael Billington described the original The Other Place as the most productive tin hut in history. I’m privileged that this will be the fifth of my plays to be premiered there.”
Director, Holly Race Roughan commented: “It’s been such a privilege working with the legendary political playwright David Edgar on his fiercely timely new play. From my very first read, I was struck by its incisive examination of the intense political and cultural polarisation we’re all living through. The chance to stage it during a history-making year for international elections was irresistible. Through sharp characterisation, wit, and impeccable plotting, David has laid bare how the lines between truth and fiction have been blurred in the 21st Century’s pursuit of power, challenging our fundamental understanding of freedom and democracy. I’m thrilled to bring such a timely and thought-provoking story to life with such a tremendous cast in the newly re-configured The Other Place.”
Performed in traverse, The New Real runs in The Other Place, the RSC’s studio theatre, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Having been opened by Buzz Goodbody in 1974, The Other Place has presented much of the RSC’s new work, including David Edgar’s first play for the RSC – Destiny – which opened there in 1976. Also marking their 50th year is Headlong, which continue to build upon their long-standing ambition and reputation of championing early-career artists, presenting innovative new work and bringing timely re-imaginings of classics to the fore.
