Camden New Journal - Theatre: Called to Account

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The Review - THEATRE by TOM FOOT
Published: 26 April 2007

Politicians called to account on Iraq

CALLED TO ACCOUNT
Tricycle Theatre

THE darkest chapter in New Labour history was illuminated on the Tricycle stage on Monday night where Tony Blair was being held to account for the invasion of Iraq. Richard Norton Taylor’s latest tribunal play tests the water for indicting the Prime Minister for war crimes.
Intelligence chiefs, rebel politicians and the infamous Downing Street dossier are summoned like spirits from the vasty deep.
The invasion was, without a second Security Council resolution, illegal. But did Tony Blair realise that at the time? What made the Attorney General change his “advice” on the legality of an invasion? Did he lie to the House of Commons about the threat of WMDs? Did he genuinely believe, as he so often claims, “it was the right thing to do”? Was it conspiracy, or simply cock up?
It is an eternal debate – and one that may never be satisfactorily answered. The case for indictment was far from “proven”. As “witness” Labour MP Bob Marshall (Terence Hardiman) reflects, whether he deliberately misled the country is “a philosophical point”.
The tribunal format is political theatre at its very best – each time condensing mass reams of transcripts and years of debate into a powerful two hours.
Over the last ten years Norton-Taylor and Co have probed lengthy trials and investigations spanning Stephen Lawrence, Guantanamo Bay, the Scott Arms inquiry and Bloody Sunday.
They are the brief chronicles of the time, but unlike his early efforts – where major players were hung out to dry in the dock – this is a fictional tribunal.
Diane Fletcher captured former War Cabinet minister Clare Short perfectly. She claimed she supported the war because of the promise of an independent Palestinian State. The political analyst Mark Lawson after the show called her likeness “astonishing”.
Short, like the other “witnesses”, has agreed to be interviewed by the writers. But no one in any real power is stupid or brave enough to be grilled about their role, as they would be in a real courtroom, and as a result the night lacks clout. Tony’s got away with it again.
020 7328 1000
Until May 19

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