James Graham’s docudrama, This House, was first seen at the National Theatre in 2012, and Jeremy Herrin’s fast-moving and exhilarating production is now at the Garrick Theatre. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. The play will appeal to anybody who wants to know what goes on behind closed doors at Westminster: the script is witty and the wheeling and dealing hugely entertaining.
The action begins in 1974 with a hung Parliament and ends with Labour’s defeat five years later. With a majority of only three, and then a majority of one, Labour is liable at any minute to be outvoted on a vote of no confidence and kicked out of office. The British do what they have always done in such circumstances: they muddle through. The whips are under enormous pressure to get members to vote, and that means that the sick and even the dying have to be persuaded to turn up.
