Gethsemane, by lauded British playwright David Hare, explores the way in which business, media and politics are intertwined to nobody’s advantage.

Nothing is more important to a modern political party than fundraising. But the values of the donor can’t always coincide with the professed beliefs of the party, and family scandal within the cabinet has the potential to throw both the money-raisers and the money-spenders into chaos.

Tamsin Greig makes her National Theatre debut in Hare’s new play Gethsemane. The actress, possibly best known for her comic television performances in series such as Green Wing, Love Soup and Black Books, debuts in the National’s most intimate theatre, the Cottesloe. Greig’s other stage performances include King John and Much Ado About Nothing for the Royal Shakespeare Company, winning a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance as Beatrice in the latter.

Also among the cast of Gethsemane are Nicola Walker, who played Ruth in BBC spy drama Spooks and was last at the National in Edmond, along with Anthony Calf, Stanley Townsend and Jessica Raine, who have all recently appeared at the South Bank venue.

Gethsemane is Hare’s fourteenth play to debut at the National Theatre. The others include Stuff Happens, The Permanent Way, Amy’s View, Skylight, Racing Demon and Pravda.

Gethsemane is directed at the Cottesloe by National Theatre Associate Director Howard Davies whose recent productions on the South Bank include Her Naked Skin, Never So Good and Present Laughter.

For more about Gethsemane at the National Theatre Cottesloe read our First Night Feature.