Racing Demon

David Hare

Main CharactersLionel Espy: A gentle, liberal vicar whose belief in quiet pastoral care is challenged by the more aggressive, dogmatic approaches of both his superiors and his subordinates. Tony Ferris: A young, zealously evangelical curate whose black-and-white view of morality and faith causes explosive conflict within the parish and with Lionel. The Bishop of Southwark: A pragmatic, authoritarian figure who is more concerned with the Church’s public image and institutional stability than with complex theological nuances.

First Performance: 1990, at Cottesloe Theatre (National Theatre), London

Critical masterpiece; won the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play.