About the play, playwright Frayn quipped when receiving the Critics’ Circle Award (it also garnered the Evening Standard and Olivier awards) for Best Play that he was always surprised when he’d tell the synopsis to friends if they were still awake when he’d finished. That said, however, Frayn is set to spread Democracy internationally. A Berlin production will open at the Renaissance Theatre on May 6, which is the 30th anniversary of Willy Brandt’s resignation. A Broadway production will follow later in 2004. The Wyndham's will see most of the original cast reprise their roles. Roger Allam plays West German Chancellor Brandt with Conleth Hill as Stasi agent Gunter Guillaume. New cast members are Simon Chandler and Michael Simkins. The rest of the returning company are Nicholas Blane, Paul Broughton, Christopher Ettridge, Paul Gregory, Glyn Grain and David Ryall.

Michael Blakemore directs (his eighth collaboration with Frayn), with set designs by Peter J. Davison, costumes by Sue Willmington, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Neil Alexander. Michael Codron, Lee Dean and J and C Nederlander produce.

For more information on the production at the Wyndham's, call (0)870 060 6633.