Stuff Happens
David Hare
A compelling history play that reconstructs the diplomatic and political maneuvering that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Using a mix of verbatim records and imagined private conversations, the play features major historical figures including George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Colin Powell, and Donald Rumsfeld. The title refers to Rumsfeld’s dismissive comment about the looting of Baghdad, and the drama meticulously charts the hubris, miscalculations, and ideological fervor of the era. It is a sober, epic, and highly theatrical dissection of how democratic nations go to war and the consequences of political certainty over evidence.
George W. Bush: The American President, portrayed as a man of gut instincts and religious conviction, driving the mission to depose Saddam Hussein at any cost. Tony Blair: The British Prime Minister, who attempts to act as a bridge between the US and the UN while grappling with his own moral and political dilemmas. Colin Powell: The US Secretary of State, who serves as the internal voice of caution and pragmatism within an administration increasingly dominated by neoconservative hawks.
First Performance: 2004, at Olivier Theatre (National Theatre), London
Critical triumph; praised for its even-handed but devastating portrayal of the architects of the Iraq War.
Original Actors: Alex Jennings, Adjoa Andoh, Desmond Barrit