Closex
Taking Sides
The first of two plays about the conflict between art and politics during the Second World War.
Operated by The Society of London Theatre
Taking Sides
Duchess Theatre, Catherine Street, LondonTaking Sides is Ronald Harwood's first piece about the conflict between art and politics during the Second World War.
Premiered in 1995, Taking Sides deals with an investigation into the conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler, who remained conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic during the Third Reich, becoming highly prized by Hitler as the cultural jewel in his crown. After the war he became the target for vigorous interrogation by the crude, apparently uncultured Major Steve Arnold, who had witnessed the horros of Belsen.
This production of Taking Sides, which has already played at Chichester Festival Theatre, is produced alongside Harwood's companion piece, Collaboration, with a shared cast led by Michael Pennington and David Horovitch. The two plays run in repertoire at the Duchess theatre.
Harwood is the multi-award-winning playwright of Quartet, Mahler's Conversion, An English Tragedy and The Dresser, which he adapted into a screenplay. His other work for film includes the Oscar and BAFTA-winning screenplay for The Pianist and the recent The Diving Bell And The Butterfly.
For more about Taking Sides at the Duchess theatre, read the First Night Feature.
Cast & CreativesEXPAND
cast: Michael Pennington, David Horovitch, Isla Blair, Pip Donaghy, Martin Hutson, Melanie Jessop, Sophie Roberts
director: Philip Franks
music by: Matthew Scott
lighting designer: Mark Jonathan
designer: Simon Higlett
producer: Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer for Nimax Theatres, Chichester Festival Theatre and Duncan C Weldon
Ticket Prices:
£21-£46, multi-show offers available
About the show
- Age Suitability: General
- Genre: Play
- Sub-Genre: Play-Drama
- Show Times: In rep - please check with theatre for performance dates and times
- Duration: 2h
- opening night:
- Box Office:
0844 412 4659
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FEATURES
Thu 28 May 2009 11:06Taking Sides and Collaboration
Venue InformationHIDE
Duchess Theatre
Catherine Street, London, United Kingdom, WC2B 5LA
- Nearest tube: Covent Garden (250m)
- Nearest bus: 1, 4, 6, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 77A, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341
- Nearest train: Charing Cross (625m)
- Parking: Single yellow lines in Russell Street. NCP in Drury Lane. Taxi rank at Covent Garden Piazza end of Russell Street.
- Air conditioned: 1
- Download an Enabled Map
Venue Access InformationEXPAND
- How to book: Tel: 0207 087 7960 Minicom: 0207 087 7835
- Discounts: available for all disabled people and their companions. Dependent on production, please contact for more details.
- Limited mobility: F1 and F22 in the Stalls have the most leg room. Staff will also try to find suitable seating on the night.
- Access description: One shallow step up from Catherine Street on a slight slope – lower to the right. facing main entrance. 10 steps up to the Dress Circle (3 steep steps between each row). 20 steps down to the Stalls. Staircases have handrails on both sides, and some steps are highlighted. Auditorium open 30 mins prior to performance.
- Hearing impaired: Sennheiser system with 6 headsets. Avoid the first 3 rows in the Stalls and the boxes as the signal is not very strong there.
- Guide dogs policy: Guide dogs are allowed into the auditorium if you are seated in an aisle seat or a box. Staff will also dog-sit in manager’s office for a maximum of 2 guide dogs per performance.
- Wheelchairs: Steps to all parts of the auditorium. Wheelchair users who need to remain in their chairs can use AAT Major stair-climber which lowers chairs to the stalls level, where there are spaces at N1 and N29. Please note, the stair-climber is not stored in site so advance notification is essential. Alternatively, if you are able to transfer from your chair, theatre staff will be able to assist you to any aisle seat in the Dress Circle, which is up 12 steps. Your chair will be stored in a cloakroom by the Stalls. Staff are happy to help. F1 and F22 in the Stalls have the most leg room. Staff will also try to find suitable seating on the night.
- Toilets: Women’s and men’s by Stalls, plus men’s 8 steps up and women’s 17 steps up from the Dress Circle.
- Disabled toilets: One adapted toilet at Stalls. Door opens inwards.
- Bars: 2 licensed bars. Drinks may be brought to disabled customers in the auditorium. No steps from the Box Office into the Foyer Bar, through a set of double doors. There is another bar 3 steps down from the Stalls. Moveable seats.
