The New Real

One of those few brave plays to confront the politics of our world head on. --Morning Star

It’s the 2000s. We’re in a faraway country. Rachel, a stellar American political strategist, and Caro, her British data expert, have been hired to fight a ferocious election, in a place where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake.

They think they’re here to teach the Eastern Europeans how to do democracy, but it turns out they’re here to learn. And when Rachel’s former political partner turns up on the rival side, their showdown threatens to change global politics, from Warsaw to Wisconsin. Forever.

The New Real is David Edgar’s epic, panoramic play about how the political fault-line was redrawn. It is an origin story, for right now.

David Edgar is a leading UK playwright and author of many original plays and adaptations. He also pioneered the teaching of playwriting in the UK, founding the Playwriting Studies course at Birmingham University in 1989 and serving as the program’s director for a decade. He is the author of several books, including How Plays Work (Nick Hern Books, 2009; revised 2021). His plays include: The New Real (Royal Shakespeare Company / Headlong, 2024); Here in America (Orange Tree Theatre, 2024); A Christmas Carol, adapted from the story by Charles Dickens (Royal Shakespeare Company, 2017); If Only (Minerva Theatre, Chichester, 2013); Written on the Heart (RSC, 2011); a version of Ibsen’s The Master Builder (Minerva Theatre, Chichester, 2013); Arthur and George, adapted from the novel by Julian Barnes (Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse, 2010); Testing the Echo (Out of Joint, 2008); A Time to Keep, written with Stephanie Dale (Dorchester Community Players, 2007); Playing With Fire (National Theatre, 2005); Continental Divide (US, 2003); The Prisoner’s Dilemma (RSC, 2001); Albert Speer, based on Gitta Sereny’s biography of Hitler’s architect (National Theatre, 2000); Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Birmingham Rep, 1996); Pentecost (RSC, 1994); The Shape of the Table (National Theatre, 1990); and Maydays (1983). His work for television and film includes adaptations of his play Destiny, screened by the BBC in 1978, and The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs, televised by the BBC in 1981, as well the screenplay for the film Lady Jane (1986). He has also authored several radio plays.