14 November 2022 – 18 February 2023
Noël Coward Theatre, London
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
An enthralling political pub brawl.
The Times
A scintillating, perfectly-timed play. James Graham's show is a hit.
Financial Times
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
Thrillingly staged.
Daily Mail
This exceptional work proves that theatre, at least, still has something worthwhile to say.
Sunday Express
★★★★
Zachary Quinto is a pitch-perfect Vidal in the West End transfer of Best of Enemies.
The Telegraph
★★★★
Stylish staging of a landmark TV clash.
The Guardian
★★★★
Tremendous performances from Zachary Quinto and David Harewood.
TimeOut
★★★★
A visceral, thrilling experience.
Whatsonstage
★★★★★
There's never a dull moment or a wasted word.
Attitude
★★★★★
Zachary Quinto delights.
Gay Times
