The Shape of the Table
Encyclopedia
The Shape of the Table is a theatrical drama written by David Edgar
. It was first staged at the National Theatre
, London, UK on 8 November 1990 - the first anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
- in a production directed by Jenny Killick.
The play is a powerful depiction of a fictional Eastern European nation's transitional journey from stoic Communist leadership to a more Western style democracy. The timing of the original staging to coincide with the first anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall
, and thus the Communist regime, marked the first in a trilogy of dramas Edgar had written on the theme of negotiation in the region. Other plays include Pentecost and The Prisoner's Dilemma
.
The title of the play refers to a controversial incident surrounding negotiations held during the Vietnam War
. Diplomats from the US, Saigon and Communist leaders took much time deciding the seating positions of delegates before discussions could even begin.
David Edgar (playwright)
David Edgar is a British playwright and author who has had more than sixty of his plays published and performed on stage, radio and television around the world, making him one of the most prolific dramatists of the post-1960s generation in Great Britain.He was resident playwright at the Birmingham...
. It was first staged at the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, London, UK on 8 November 1990 - the first anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
- in a production directed by Jenny Killick.
The play is a powerful depiction of a fictional Eastern European nation's transitional journey from stoic Communist leadership to a more Western style democracy. The timing of the original staging to coincide with the first anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
, and thus the Communist regime, marked the first in a trilogy of dramas Edgar had written on the theme of negotiation in the region. Other plays include Pentecost and The Prisoner's Dilemma
The Prisoner's Dilemma (play)
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a theatrical drama written by David Edgar. It was premiered in The Other Place Theatre by the Royal Shakespeare Company in July 2001.Cast for the premiere included: Trevor Cooper ,Larry Lamb,Joseph Mydell,...
.
The title of the play refers to a controversial incident surrounding negotiations held during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Diplomats from the US, Saigon and Communist leaders took much time deciding the seating positions of delegates before discussions could even begin.