Francis Beckett


In October we are bringing my play Vodka with Stalin back to Upstairs at the Gatehouse.

Vodka with Stalin tells the true story of a British women, Rose Cohen, who in the 1920s was courted by the future Communist leader Harry Pollitt.

She left him for Lenin’s agent in Britain, with whom she went to Moscow and had a baby – just in time to be caught up in Stalin’s purges. As a foreigner and a Jew, she was naturally suspected of being in league with Trotsky.

Here are some of the comments about Vodka with Stalin:

“Vodka with Stalin is terrific theatre on cruelty to individuals in pursuit of a collective goal.” – Kevin Maguire, political editor, Daily Mirror. 

 “I was spellbound. The best political play since the David Hare classics. Terrific acting. Serious version of Death of Stalin.” – Denis MacShane, former Minister for Europe. 

“Deeply researched and compelling.” – Mary Conway, Morning Star. 

 “Francis Beckett is particularly skilled at writing political plays which also bring out the humanity in his characters and allow us moments to laugh.” – Lizzie Loveridge, Theatrevibe.

 David Malcolm as Harry and Miranda Colmans as Rose.Denise O’Leary and Silas Hawkins as Ivy and Maxim Litvinov.Jonathan Hansler as Stalin.

 

 

 

 

 

My Recent Books