The Ministry of Fear Media Release

It all started with a fruitcake….   

Theatre Alibi present an exciting first-time adaptation of Graham Greene’s The Ministry of Fear. Graham Greene is one the greatest twentieth century novelists, probably best known for Brighton Rock which was made into a classic film noir with Greene’s own script and starred the young Richard Attenborough.  Like Brighton Rock Greene described The Ministry of Fear as one of his “entertainments”.

Set in 1942 during the Blitz The Ministry of Fear is a beautifully crafted and gripping spy thriller and love story with more than a whiff of Alfred Hitchcock and echoes of the 1949 film The Third Man, for which Greene wrote the screenplay.

The story follows the fortunes of Arthur Rowe, an innocent caught up with a nest of German spies bent on smashing Britain. When Arthur guesses the weight of a fruit cake at a garden fête he finds himself embroiled with a nest of German spies, on the run and way out of his depth. The crumbling of London under the impact of the relentless bombing mirrors the crumbling of Arthur’s own sanity as he becomes a hunted man in a nightmare world of treachery and corruption.

Shot through with black comedy, The Ministry of Fear is stuffed with vivid characters, some of which are bizarrely larger than life. 

Described by The Guardian as “one of Britain’s most inventive companies” and as “terrific storytellers”, Theatre Alibi have turned this most theatrical of novels into a rich and compelling piece of theatre, with powerful performances, innovative staging and lighting, and a thrilling live score.

The Ministry of Fear is a co-production with Exeter Northcott and Oxford Playhouse and tours nationally for three months with funding from Arts Council England through the National Lottery.

ENDS

For further information, to arrange interviews or arrange press tickets please contact:
Cat McNaught, Marketing and Communications Officer – Citizens Theatre – 0141 418 6233 / cat@citz.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For more information about Theatre Alibi see http://www.theatrealibi.co.uk/ 

LISTINGS
Theatre Alibi with Exeter Northcott & Oxford Playhouse
MINISTRY OF FEAR
By Graham Greene
Directed by Nikki Sved
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 20 – Sat 24 April, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 24 April, 2.30pm
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Tuesdays: £7 any seat

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