Starting with a seemingly innocent one night stand, this darkly witty and magical play by Zinnie Harris dives into our recent European history.

An epic look at the true cost of principles and how we live now.

Zinnie Harris’ credits at the Royal Court include Nightingale and Chase. Her play The Wheel for the National Theatre of Scotland, directed by Vicky Featherstone, won a Fringe First Award, jointly won an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Theatre Award and was shortlisted for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her other recent credits include The Message on the Watch and The Panel at the Tricycle, A Doll’s House at the Donmar (adapt.). Her 2000 play Further than the Furthest Thingwon the Peggy Ramsay Foundation Award, a Fringe First, and the John Whiting Award. On television, she wrote extensively for Spooks and is currently writing Tommy and Tuppence based on the Agatha Christie series for David Walliams on BBC1.

Artistic Director of the Royal Court Vicky Featherstone directs. She previously worked with Zinnie Harris on The Wheel at National Theatre of Scotland, where she was the company’s Artistic Director. Since she started at the Royal Court, her credits have included Dennis Kelly’s The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas and Abi Morgan’s The Mistress Contract. She opened her first season at the Royal Court with Open Court – a festival of plays, ideas and events, chosen by over 140 writers. At National Theatre of Scotland, her credits included Enquirer (co-directed with John Tiffany), Appointment With The Wicker Man and 27 and prior to Scotland, Vicky was Artistic Director of Paines Plough.

4 February - 21 March

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COMPETITION: Win 1x pair of tickets for How To Hold Your Breath at the Royal Court Theatre, on Wednesday 4 February at 19:30. To enter the competition, send an email to bojana@run-riot.com with the correct answer in the ‘subject’ box. The winner will be randomly selected.

 Q: Before becoming Artistic Director of the Royal Court, Vicky Featherstone was the founding Artistic Director of:

A: 1) National Theatre of Scotland 2) National Theatre of Wales 3) Lyric Hammersmith