Satirist returns to politics with Pandemonium

Armando Iannucci’s play about the government's response to the Covid pandemic is to open in London in December.

The Thick Of It creator has returned to politics with Pandemonium, which will first run at the Soho Theatre.

It is described as a ‘a funny, wild ongoing history play about how our great leaders grappled first with the Pandemic and then with each other’.

Iannucci said: ‘I wanted to write something furious and energetic about the past three years. Pandemonium is partly about us wanting those in charge to be up to the job, to be heroes, and the anger that started building when the news of the drinks parties began to emerge.  And yes, I wanted to write something funny (don’t forget, we also had Liz Truss!).

‘ Laughter is a great release, and my aim is for the audience to have a good time and a good laugh, but I also hope it helps people process the tumultuous and crazy time we went through.’

Iannucci previously wrote a mock epic poem about Covid, also called Pandemonium,  which he called a ‘fast and furious distillation of my mixed emotional response’ to lockdown and ‘all the anger and confusion I felt at our leaders’ catastrophic handling of the first eight months or so of the pandemic’, adding:  I didn’t want to write a polemic, though; more an expression of bewilderment and regret.’

The stage play –  called ‘a caustic entertainment’ – will be directed by Patrick Marber , who previously worked with Iannucci on Alan Partridge and The Day Today.

Its description adds: ‘The Johnson-Truss-Sunak years told at a furious pace in all their horrible glory. Relive the horror! The Mess! The Murk! The lying about the lies! Jingle while you mingle with Bully Raab and Super Suella. It's one big dodgy party. Bring a suitcase.’

Casting has not yet been announced, but it will open on  December 1 and run until  January 6

Iannucci mentioned the show in passing last month when he announced, that he and director Sean Foley were to bring Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film Dr Strangelove to the West End in 2024.

Published: 4 Aug 2023