Political Thriller 'Frost/Nixon' Opens at The Gryphon

Tuesday, 29 October 2019, 6:36 pm
Article: Howard Davis

Political Thriller Frost/Nixon Opens at The Gryphon.

In what might be the most timely play of 2019, Stagecraft’s production of Frost/Nixon, by Peter Morgan, opens on 30 October at the Gryphon Theatre.

Frost/Nixon is the gripping, thriller-style true story of the most-watched political interview in history.

US President Richard Nixon resigns amid the fallout of the Watergate scandal in 1974. By 1977, he is living in splendid seclusion in California and has never publicly admitted any guilt or remorse for letting his country down.

Then along comes British playboy talk show host, David Frost, determined to extract a confession from the disgraced statesman over the course of four televised interviews.

Frost and Nixon go head to head in what will become TV’s greatest battle of wills.

Director Tanya Piejus says it was a mix of admiration for the script and her personal background in media and politics that drew her to the play.

“Peter Morgan has turned what is a superficially boring subject - a series of political TV interviews - into an exciting and enjoyable narrative that reveals as much about the lure of celebrity as it does about the unforgiving world of politics,” says Tanya.

“What we are seeing today in the US has striking parallels with the hatred Nixon felt for the media, and with his actions in obstructing investigations.”

Tanya also has a personal connection with the story, having worked at the BBC under John Birt, who produced the Frost/Nixon interviews.

“The play references how organised John is and we see him as a master of strategy. While I was at the Beeb, John Birt controversially restructured the organisation winning him few friends, but arguably saving it from possible government privatisation. After he left he went on to become Tony Blair’s Strategic Advisor so his fascination with politics at the highest levels continued.”

Tanya expects the play will have particular appeal for Wellington audiences.

“We’re in the thick of politics here and I expect the audiences will be just as drawn into the tension and the debate as the cast has been.”

Frost/Nixon runs from Wednesday, 30 October to Saturday, 9 November.

Tickets are available on i-ticket and range from $20 - $25. Group discounts are available.

For more details see www.stagecraft.co.nz

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Howard Davis

Scoop Arts Editor

Educated at Cambridge and UCLA; worked on several major Hollywood feature films and as a Kundalini Yoga instructor in Los Angeles; currently enjoying life in Wellington.

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