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Satirical play by David Hare and Howard Brenton
Original National Theatre poster Pravda is a satirical play by David Hare and Howard Brenton exploring the role of journalism in society. It was first produced at the National Theatre in London on 2 May 1985, directed by Hare and starring Anthony Hopkins in the role of Lambert Le Roux, white South African media mogul .[1] Labelled a "Fleet Street comedy", it is a satire on the mid-1980s British newspaper industry during the Thatcher era, in particular the Australian press baron Rupert Murdoch .[2] [3] [4] Its title refers to the Russian Communist party newspaper Pravda .
The play won 1985 Best Play Award from both the London Evening Standard Awards and City Limits magazine.[5] It has been described as "one of the biggest hits in the history of the National Theatre."[6]
Original cast Andrew May - Tim McInnerny Bill Smiley - Richard Hope Bishop of Putney - Daniel Thorndike Cartoonist - William Sleigh Cliveden Whicker-Baskett - Guy Williams D P P Payne - Christopher Baines Donna Le Roux - Zoe Rutland Eaton Sylvester - Bill Nighy Elliot Fruit-Norton - Basil Henson Hamish McLennan; Hannon Spot - Fred Pearson Harry Morrison - Ron Pember Jack ‘Breaker’ Bond - Bill Moody Journalist - Robert Ralph Journalist - Paul Stewart Lambert Le Roux - Anthony Hopkins Larry Punt - Mark Jax Leander Scroop - Nigel Le Vaillant Lord Silk; Ian Ape-Warden - Olivier Pierre Michael Quince M.P. - Peter Blythe Miles Foley; Mac ‘Whipper’ Wellington; *Doug Fantom - Ian Bartholomew Moira Patterson - Patricia Franklin Newsvendor - Glenn Williams Photographer - Desmond Adams Princess Jill - Harriet Thorpe Rebecca Foley - Kate Buffery Sir Stamford Foley - Ivor Roberts Suzie Fontaine - Miranda Foster Waiter - Norman Warwick Critical reception Punch called it "A savagely bitchy and often wildly funny evening"; the Financial Times noted "A magnificent epic drama"; and The Observer wrote of "sulphurous and crackling entertainment."[7] [8]
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