Condemned as a libel on the British people when it was first produced in 1951, Absolute Hell is set in a decaying West End drinking club at the end of the Second World War. The 1995 production at the Royal National Theatre starred Judi Dench and was directed by Anthony Page.
Two plays -- The Dark River and After October -- by a master of the British stage. In The Dark River, set in the late 1930s, the flamboyant characters are cocooned in a Thames backwater, ignoring the turbulent events of a politically unstable Europe. After October is Ackland's most personal, autobiographical play.
Set in the aftermath of the Second World War, the narrative follows a family striving for normalcy as they prepare for a social event. With Laura back from Africa, her widowhood complicates the family dynamics. As the festivities unfold, her shocking secret emerges, jeopardizing not only the party but also their social aspirations. The story captures the tension between societal expectations and personal truths amidst the backdrop of post-war recovery.
Hampstead, 1936. In a shabby basement flat, aspiring playwright Clive Monkhams dreams of a West End hit and winning Francie's heart. With opening night approaching and finances fast running out, everything rides on the success of the play and, for Clive, the future looks all too glittering...