The sold out, critically acclaimed and multiple award-winning hit, Best of Enemies transfers to the West End. Zachary Quinto (The Boys in the Band, Star Trek, Heroes) makes his London stage debut playing left-wing icon Gore Vidal, with David Harewood (Homeland, Super Girl, Ten Percent) reprising his role as the right-wing figurehead William F. Buckley Jr.
1968 – a year of protest that divided America. As two men fight to become the next President, all eyes are on the battle between two others: the cunningly conservative William F. Buckley Jr., and the iconoclastic liberal Gore Vidal. Beliefs are challenged and slurs slung as these political idols feud nightly in a new television format, debating the moral landscape of a shattered nation. Little do they know they're about to open up a new frontier in American politics, and transform television news forever…
James Graham’s work for TV (Sherwood, Quiz, Brexit: The Uncivil War) and theatre (Ink, This House, Labour of Love) makes him one of the UK’s most exhilarating and celebrated writers and Best of Enemies reunites him with award-winning director, Jeremy Herrin (People, Places and Things, Wolf Hall Trilogy, This House). This Young Vic and Headlong transfer to the Noël Coward “rushes at the audience like a newshound after a story” (The Observer) and is “the most riveting play in London’ (New York Times).
William F. Buckley Jr - David Harewood
Gore Vidal - Zachary Quinto
Aretha Franklin, Party Guest, Brooke Gladstone - Deborah Alli
William Sheehan, Chet Huntley, Howard Austen - Emilio Doorgasingh
Patricia Buckley - Clare Foster
Frank Meyer, Andy Warhol, Bobby Kennedy, David Brinkley, Enoch Powell - Tom Godwin
James Baldwin, George Merlis, Martin Luther King Jr. - Syrus Lowe
Elmer Lower, Walter Cronkite - Kevin McMonagle
Tariq Ali, Matt - Sam Otto
Voice Over - Maria Louca
Ensemble - David Boyle, Lincoln Conway, Vivienne Ekwulugo, Jamie Horgarth, Saaj Raja
Original Documentary - Morgan Neville & Robert Neville
Writer - James Graham
Director - Jeremy Herrin
Designer - Bunny Christie
Lighting Designer - Jack Knowles
Sound Designer - Tom Gibbons
Video Designer - Max Spielbichler
Movement Director - Shelley Maxwell
Casting (UK) - Charlotte Sutton CDG
Casting (US) - Jim Carnahan
Assistant Director - Annie Kershaw
Voice & Dialect - Hazel Holder
Costume Supervisor - Sian Harris
Props Supervisor - Lily Mollgaard & Jamie Owens
Wigs Designer - Helen Keane for Campbell Young Associates
Design Associate - Verity Sadler
Associate Video Designer - Ben Glover
Fight Director - Cristian Cardenas
Producers - Second Half Productions, Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Wessex Grove, Young Vic & Headlong
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An enthralling political pub brawl.
The Times
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A scintillating, perfectly-timed play. James Graham's show is a hit.
Financial Times
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This look at the corruption of modern political discourse is dynamic and intoxicating. James Graham's play is as searingly insightful as ever.
Evening Standard
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Thrillingly staged.
Daily Mail
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This exceptional work proves that theatre, at least, still has something worthwhile to say.
Sunday Express
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★★★★
Zachary Quinto is a pitch-perfect Vidal in the West End transfer of Best of Enemies.
The Telegraph
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★★★★
Stylish staging of a landmark TV clash.
The Guardian
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★★★★
Tremendous performances from Zachary Quinto and David Harewood.
TimeOut
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★★★★
A visceral, thrilling experience.
Whatsonstage
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★★★★★
There's never a dull moment or a wasted word.
Attitude
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★★★★★
Zachary Quinto delights.
Gay Times