Zachary Quinto and David Harewood star in James Graham’s Best of Enemies in the West End. The Olivier Award-nominated play transfers to the Noel Coward Theatre for 14 weeks.
The Best of Enemies play is set during the 1968 American presidential election. Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were campaigning across the United States to garner support for their party, and ultimately win the presidency. But as two men fight to become the 37th president, there’s political debates happening between William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal. The pair can’t see eye to eye: Buckley Jr. is a staunch conservative, meanwhile Vidal holds liberal views.
Even though the pair refused to speak to one another, they ended up debating each other during a series of televised debates at the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami and the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Their debates transpired into a lingering cultural feud and opened up a new frontier in American politics. Even though they disliked each other, they couldn’t exist without one another.
Best of Enemies premiered at the Young Vic in 2021. In a London Theatre review of Best of Enemies, our critic said: “our voting in a TV-friendly character as Prime Minister, only to rue the disastrous consequences, can partly be traced back to this key juncture when politics fully embraced entertainment and personality trumped all else… there's a big difference between arguing about ideas in abstract and fighting for your life. Even these two supposed outsiders are protected by their privilege. A thought-provoking and resonant drama.”
David Harewood reprises the role of right-wing figurehead William F. Buckley Jr. from the Young Vic production. Zachary Quinto makes his West End debut as Gore Vidal in Best of Enemies. The American Horror Story star’s Broadway credits include The Boys in the Band and The Glass Menagerie.
Best of Enemies sees Britain’s leading cretaives team up once more. James Graham writes the Best of Enemies play based on Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon's 2015 documentary, and Jeremy Herrin directs the all-star cast. Best of Enemies earned two Olivier nominations, including Best New Play, so we’re looking forward to this TV debate coming to life on stage.
2 hours 25 minutes (incl. interval)
14th November, 2022
18th February, 2023
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to a ticket holder who is at least 18 years old. Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted.
By: James Graham
Director: Jeremy Herrin
Cast list: Zachary Quinto, David Harewood, Deborah Alli, David Boyle, Lincoln Conway, Emilio Doorgasingh, Vivienne Ekwulugo, Clare Foster, Tom Godwin, John Hodgkinson, Jamie Hogarth, Syrus Lowe, Kevin McMonagle, Sam Otto, and Saaj Raja
Design: Bunny Christie
Lighting: Jack Knowles
Sound: Tom Gibbons
Location: West End
Railway station: Charing Cross
Bus numbers: (Charing Cross) 24, 29, 176; (Strand) 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139
Night bus numbers: (Charing Cross) 24, 176, N5, N20, N29, N41, N279; (Strand) 6, 23, 139, N9, N15, N11, N13, N21, N26, N44, N47, N87, N89, N91, N155, N343, N551
Car park: St Martin's Lane Hotel (1min)
Directions from tube: (2mins) Take Cranbourn Street away from Leicester Square until St Martin’s Lane, where you head right until you reach the theatre.
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Please note: The below performances will be filmed. There will be several cameras in the auditorium and views of the stage may be blocked at any time during the performance. There will be 360 degree filming which will result in audience members being filmed and being visible in any later broadcast. By attending you are agreeing to being filmed. Latecomers will not be admitted.
2.30pm Wednesday 25 January 2023
2.30pm Wednesday 1 February 2023
7.30pm Wednesday 1 February 2023
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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