Weapons of Happiness

By Howard Brenton
Directed by David Hare

The National Theatre
First Performance: Lyttelton Theatre 14 July 1976
Closed 23 Oct 1976. Total 41 Performances.

Weapons of Happiness was the first commissioned play to be staged at the South Bank.

1976 Evening Standard Theatre Awards - Best Play
Society of West End Theatre Awards (Olivier Awards) Nominated - Actor of the Year in a New Play: Frank Finlay as Josef Frank

• 
• Josef Frank ........ Frank Finlay
  Ralph Makepeace ........ Michael Medwin
  Billy ........ Derek Thompson
  Ken ......... Billy Colvil
  Stacky ......... Nick Brimble
  Janice ........ Julie Covington
  Liz ......... Annie Hayes
  Alf ........ Frederick Radley
  Sylvia Makepeace ........ Thelma Whiteley
  Mr Stanley ........ Bernard Gallagher
  Inspector Miller ........ Maurice O' Connell
  Doubek, interrogator ........ Matthew Guinness
  Kohoutek, interrogator ......... Maurice O' Connell
  Russian Adviser ........ Michael Medwin
  Clementis ........ William Russell
  NKVD Men:
  Pat Connell
  Martin Friend
  Shaun Scott
  Jeremy Truelove
  Stalin ........ Geoffrey Bateman
  Waiter ........ Chris Hunter
  Commentator ........ Geoffrey Bateman
  Guards:
  Martin Friend
  Chris Hunter
  Constables:
  Pat Connell
  Martin Friend
  Jeremy Truelove
  
  'All the bright weapons of happiness wait only for a sign'
  Vasko Popa
  
  'I find it impossible to be a moralist, like Shaw. I hate that kind of moral pressure. Writers of my group all sense the enormous upheaval that is going to come. It is difficult to define the nature of that upheaval, but if you write a scene set in London today - about any class - that future upheaval will be present in that scene. A good playwright doesn't know any more. It is only by obsession and by craft and by personal accident that he can set down his vision of the world, and it shouldn't matter that some people may be offended by it.'
  
  Howard Brenton
  

• 
• 
  
  Frank Finlay and Julie Covington

• 
•