About the Play:

Democracy is a full-length drama by Michael Frayn. Rooted in shocking and fascinating historical truth, Democracy is the story of former West German chancellor Willy Brandt. The play explores his downfall at the hands of an East German spy who becomes his assistant and confessor. Part political expose, part human drama, Democracy is a gripping political thriller.

Democracy is about the geopolitical ambitions of an inspirational politician in Germany during the 1960s and 1970s and the forces in play around him, exploring the Machiavellian nature of coalition government. The play follows West German Chancellor Willy Brandt – one of the most charismatic leaders in post-war politics – who makes history as he starts to reunite Germany, but discovers things aren't as straightforward as they seem when it was revealed that his devoted personal assistant, Günter Guillaume, was an East German spy who was selling secrets about everything from Brandt's political dealings to his extra-marital affairs. Three political parties, in and out of bed with each other like drunken intellectuals, fifteen warring cabinet ministers, and 60 million people speaking with different voices. All making deals with each other and breaking them. All looking round at every moment to see the expression on everyone else's face. All trying to guess which way everyone else will jump. All out for themselves and all totally dependent on everyone else. And the consequence is that you can never really know who you are dealing with or indeed, whether you can trust them. Democracy is a riveting true-life portrait of personal intrigue, duplicity, and betrayal.

Democracy premiered in 2003 at London's Royal National Theatre winning the Evening Standard Award and Critics' Circle Best Play awards. It transferred to Broadway in 2004 at Brooks Atkinson Theatre and was nominated for the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award as Best Play. The show has enjoyed many successful productions worldwide, including Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Wellington, Vancouver, Toronto and Moscow.

Cast: 10 male

What people say:

"A brilliant play about trust, friendship and identity." — Daily Mail (London)

"Michael Frayn's complex and richly rewarding new play…is wonderfully alert to the piquant paradoxes and ironic twists of this intensely tricky period in Germany's conversation with itself." — The Independent (London)

"What makes Frayn's play essential viewing is its Schiller-like grasp of practical politics." — The Guardian (London)

"Michael Frayn's Democracy … is one of those rare dramas that don’t just dare to think big but that fully translate their high aspirations to the stage, with sharp style and thrilling clarity." — The New York Times

About the Playwright:

Michael Frayn is an English writer who enjoys equally successful careers as dramatist, novelist and translator, having started out as an award-winning journalist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy. His novel Headlong was shortlisted for the Mann Booker Prize. Born in London in 1933 and educated at Cambridge, he is married to the biographer and critic Claire Tomalin; they live in London.