Morgan, Tierney and Cox bring the play’s finely tuned dialogue to life with energy and precision
It is a rare thing at the theatre, but there’s something reassuring about watching a play whose writing makes you feel in safe hands. Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky’s The Gang of Three has that confidence: the language is finely crafted, the rhythm precise and the political quarrelling consistently funny, writes Leo Dunlop.
At its centre are three Labour heavyweights: Roy Jenkins, Denis Healey and Tony Crosland, played by Hywel Morgan, Colin Tierney and Alan Cox. Harold Wilson’s resignation in 1976 creates an opportunity for power, and the question of who should take it. Their stated aim is to reach a rational decision about the next leader. Naturally, they do anything but.
The play unfolds as a collage of scenes spanning the 1940s to the 1980s, gradually revealing the men behind the political figures. The writers, Khan and Salinsky, handle exposition deftly, threading context through dialogue without slowing the action. With only three actors on stage, shifting alliances become almost physical: power passes between them as personal rivalries bleed into national politics.
The humour has something of Yes, Minister and The Thick of It, finding comedy in their desperation, manoeuvring and elaborate self-justifications. The jokes land, but the play’s real strength is its ear for political argument, turning ideological debate into compelling drama.
By the time we reach Thatcher’s Britain, the political orchestra has changed, but the music remains familiar. The Gang of Three speaks to the Labour Party’s present tensions without becoming prescriptive, trusting its sharply drawn quarrels to make the connections for us.
The writing is fantastic, balancing wit, intelligence and emotional depth, while the performances live up to the language on the page. Morgan, Tierney and Cox bring the play’s finely tuned dialogue to life with energy and precision, ensuring that every argument, hesitation and shift in allegiance lands. The Gang of Three will certainly find its audience, particularly among those drawn to political history, sharp comedy and beautifully crafted theatre.
Kirsty Patrick Ward directs the play that tours until 21st of November, giving audiences across the country the chance to catch it.
Booking and full details: https://thegangofthree.co.uk/
