WOS Radio & TV: Playing Politics in Now or Later

This week the world premiere production of Christopher Shinn’s Now or Later begins previews at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs (3 September 2008, opens 11 September). The play is a timely US election drama starring Eddie Redmayne and Matthew Marsh and helmed by the Court’s artistic director Dominic Cooke.

In the lead-up to the real contest between Barack Obama and John McCain in November, Shinn’s new play explores the tension between liberalism and fundamentalism in American politics. On election night, things are looking rosy for the Democratic party. But as the likely President-elect (Marsh), his wife, advisors and 20-year-old son watch the results roll in, controversial photos of John Jr (Redmayne) are gathering momentum on the internet and the press team are working on damage limitation. Father and son must reach an agreement.

In advance of the opening performances, the Royal Court has released a video trailer (above) and a podcast (link below), which features a roundtable discussion with Christopher Shinn, Dominic Cooke, Matthew Marsh and Eddie Redmayne, chaired by Royal Court associate director Ola Animashawun.

It provides something of a foretaste of what attendees at the Whatsonstage.com Outing to Now or Later on 24 September can expect, as following the show members of the creative team (including Cooke, Marsh and Redmayne) will participate in a Q & A session, exclusively available to Whatsonstage.com Outing members.