THIS HOUSE National Theatre/Cottesloe

The theatre has been transformed into the Houses of Parliament chamber with theatregoers sharing the green leather benches with the actors playing the MPs. James Graham’s very entertaining docudrama begins in 1974 with a hung parliament; and with a majority of only three, Labour is liable to be voted out at any moment. The British do what they have always done: they muddle through. The whips of both parties are under terrific pressure. Jeremy Herrin’s wonderfully energetic production captures the class war, the wheeling, the dealing, the pairing, the brawling, the cheating, the pragmatism, the compromises, the co-operation, the non-co-operation and the hooliganism. Here is a play about politicians which people, who are not interested in politics, can enjoy; the infighting behind closed doors is riveting. The script is witty and there is sterling work by Andrew Frame, Philip Glenister, Richard Ridings, Julian Wadham and Charles Edwards.