Balmoral (aka Liberty Hall) is a 1987 farcical play by British playwright Michael Frayn. It is set in an alternate history 1937 Britain, which experienced a communist revolution in 1917.[1] The royal residence at Balmoral Castle hosts a commune of writers in poor living conditions, who are thrown into conflict when a Russian capitalist journalist visits to interview an author who has gone missing.[2] Frayn rewrote Balmoral several times to try to make the play's fanciful premise believable enough to support a farce.[3]

First edition (publ. Methuen)

The play was re-staged in 2009, starring Rik Mayall and directed by Alan Strachan.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Gardner, Lyn (31 July 2009). "Theatre preview: Balmoral, Bath". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Balmoral - Michael Frayn". www.complete-review.com. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  3. ^ Taylor, Paul (3 August 1993). "PROFILE / Seriously entertaining: The writer Michael Frayn is notable for his insoluble lucidity. Paul Taylor tries to sort it out". The Independent.

Further reading

edit