The play is directed by Michael Blakemore and stars Roger (Privates On Parade) Allam and Conleth (Stones in His Pockets) Hill. It will be performed in the Cottesloe Theatre.

Democracy is set in West Germany in 1969, with Chancellor (the German term for Prime Minister) Willy Brandt taking office — little realizing that his personal assistant is spying on him for the East German Secret Service.

Democracy marks the return of writer Michael Frayn to the National: His award-winning Copenhagen started there in 1998 before transferring to the West End (Duchess Theatre) and Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for Best Play.

Democracy also sees the return to the National of Roger Allam, who co-starred there as Adolf Hitler in Speer, and also appeared in The Cherry Orchard, Summerfolk, Money and Troilus and Cressida.

Michael Blakemore's professional relationship with Michael Frayn goes back a long way, and Democracy will be the seventh of his plays that he has directed.