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  • Taking Sides and Collaboration

    28 May 2009

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    Ronald Harwood’s plays, written independently of each other, are now staged in repertoire at the Duchess theatre, painting a portrait of the struggle to maintain the independence of culture under the Third Reich. Read more


Taking Sides

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Showing at: Duchess Theatre

Box Office: 0844 412 4659

Download (pdf format): Seating plan

Age: General

Genre: Play

Sub Genre: Play (Drama)

Taking 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.


Performance Details

  • previews from: 20 May 2009
  • opening night: 27 May 2009
  • closing: 22 Aug 2009

show times: In rep - please check with theatre for performance dates and times

ticket prices: £21-£46, multi-show offers available

duration: 2h

cast: Michael Pennington, David Horovitch, Isla Blair, Pip Donaghy, Martin Hutson, Melanie Jessop, Sophie Roberts

author: Ronald Harwood

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

map: View Map

Access Enabled Map (pdf format):
View The Duchess Theatre Access Enabled Map

address: 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: Yes

Assisted Performance Booking Information

Access Booking: Tel: 0207 087 7960 Minicom: 0207 087 7835

Accessible Facilities Venue Information

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.

Special offers - Harwood Plays - Duchess Theatre - May 2009

Ronald Harwood's Collaboration and Taking Sides

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