Absence of War

After a long period of turmoil, the Leader's office has imposed an uneasy period of calm on the Labour Party. But the leader, George Jones, knows he has only one chance of power.

The third part of a trilogy of plays about British institutions, The Absence of War offers an original look at the way modern politicians think and act, as well as a meditation on the classic problems of leadership.

Alongside the first two parts of the trilogy, Racing Demon and Murmuring Judges, about the Church and the Law, David Hare has also written Asking Around, a documentary book which supplies the background to the writing of the plays.

David Hare was born in Sussex, England in 1947. His first play, Slag, was produced in 1970. His other works include Plenty (1978), A Map of the World (1983), and Pravda (1985). A founder of the Portable Theatre and the Joint Stock, he became resident dramatist and literary manager of the Royal Court Theatre, London (1967-71), and at the Nottingham Playhouse (1973). Until recently, Hare served as director of the National Theatre, London. In 1982, Hare founded a film company, Greenpoint Films. He has written several screenplays including Plenty (1985), Weatherby (1985), Strapless (1989), and Damage (1992). Several of his best-known plays, The Secret Rapture, Racing Demon, Skylight, The Judas Kiss, Via Dolorosa and Amy's View have also been presented on Broadway.