The First Domino
Encyclopedia
The First Domino is a fictional English play about a terrorist bomber, written by Jonathan Cash, who was injured in the 1999 bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub
in Soho, London.
In 1999, Cash was standing in the bar when the third and final nail-bomb, in a campaign targeting minorities, exploded. He received compensation, and used it to fund a university course in Dramatic Writing. Some years later, he developed a two-hander
play about a fictional convicted terrorist being interviewed in prison by a psychiatrist. It premièred at the Brighton Festival Fringe
in , and received the Best Theatrical Performance Award. It was later adapted for radio.
In 2011, comparisons were drawn between the terror campaign, the play, and the Norwegian terrorism incident
.
, and was written as a response to a real-world nail bomb
attack.
In 1999, David Copeland
, a neo-nazi and former member of the British National Party
, had decorated his bedroom with Nazi symbols and collected news stories on racist attacks. Copeland attempted to stir up ethnic and homophobic tension with a series of bombs targeting the minority communities of London. The first attack was in the largely black community of Brixton
on Saturday, . The second hit the Asian community of Brick Lane
on Saturday, . The third took place at a pub in Old Compton Street, Soho
- the heart of London's gay community.
On Friday , a sunny evening after work, Jonathan Cashauthor of the play, and editor of The Gay Timeshad agreed to meet two friends in the Admiral Duncan
, as was usual for them. While he waited, patrons noticed an unattended bag. The previous two bombs had made Londoners wary; although they had been described as race-hate attacks, police had issued a warning that a gay bar could be the bomber's next target, and The Yard another pub in the area had displayed a poster warning customers to be alert.
The Admiral Duncan bomb, a home made device of fertiliser and nails, exploded at
Three people died as a result of the blast (including a pregnant woman) and many more were seriously hurt, including Cash, who was standing close to the bomb; he received injuries to his back and shoulder, and burns to his face and legs.
David Copeland
was convicted of murder on 30 June 2000, and given six concurrent life sentences. He had been diagnosed by five psychiatrists as having paranoid schizophrenia
. In 2007, the High Court ruled that he must serve at least 50 years.
Cash received financial compensation, and used it to fund an MA
in Dramatic Writing at the University of Sussex
, saying he "wanted to do something positive with the money".
Cash perceived Copeland as wanting to be the first domino, setting off a race war.
The play was produced by the Brighton Theatre and directed by Williams. It was a two-hander
about a fictional terrorist being interviewed by a psychiatrist in a top-security prison. Danny Seldon (who used to be a marine) played the part of the terrorist, the doctor was played by Cary Crankson, and music was by Rory Cameron. with "surprising twists".
Cash and Williams' production company, Brighton Theatre, presented the play at Brighton Festival Fringe
on , close to the of the bombing (though they state the date was coincidental). It was described as "honest and hard-hitting"
Cash was then commissioned by production company Unique (part of UBC Media Group) to rewrite the play for BBC Radio 3
's series of single dramas The Wire. The completely re-imagined piece was first broadcast on Saturday, . The cast list included Toby Jones
, Joseph Kloska, Claire Price
and Struan Rodger
.
Less than a year later, Cash was quoted in The Guardian in a piece reacting to the 2011 Norway attacks
as conclusions were reached about the similarities between David Copeland
and Anders Breivik. Cash said, "It has made me think about the words people use. How they create a landscape. When someone is being bigoted or homophobic, everybody should be asking questions."
, manufacturing a bomb, which is left menacingly on the stage. We meet him some time later, in a top-security prison, convicted for terrorism. He is interviewed by a psychiatrist who is engaged in research on sociopaths
for an academic paper. The bomber's belief system, incorporating violent racism and homophobia, is revealed causing the audience to question their own beliefs. A series of psychological games
starts between the prisoner and the psychiatrist, which challenges the audience's conceptions. Secrets are gradually revealed, reality is distorted, and the play ends with a surprising twist.
It is a play about hatred, which illustrates how violence breeds more violence. The complex relationship between bomber and psychiatrist fails to result in a solution.
in said it had "surprising twists [...] as the plot thickens", and one reviewer said it was "one of the most honest and hard hitting plays I have seen." The play received that year's Best Theatrical Performance Award.
A representative of the Gay Police Association
hoped the play would raise awareness; the GPA helped to raise money for producing it, and recollections from the police influenced the story.
Admiral Duncan pub
The Admiral Duncan is a pub in Old Compton Street, Soho in the heart of London's gay district. It is named after Admiral Adam Duncan, who defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797.- Bombing :...
in Soho, London.
In 1999, Cash was standing in the bar when the third and final nail-bomb, in a campaign targeting minorities, exploded. He received compensation, and used it to fund a university course in Dramatic Writing. Some years later, he developed a two-hander
Two-hander
Two-hander is a term for a play, movie, or television programme with only two main characters. The two characters in question often display differences in social standing or experiences, differences that are explored and possibly overcome as the story unfolds....
play about a fictional convicted terrorist being interviewed in prison by a psychiatrist. It premièred at the Brighton Festival Fringe
Brighton Festival Fringe
The Brighton Festival Fringe is an open access arts festival held annually in Brighton, England. It is the largest annual arts festival in England.- Introduction :...
in , and received the Best Theatrical Performance Award. It was later adapted for radio.
In 2011, comparisons were drawn between the terror campaign, the play, and the Norwegian terrorism incident
2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks were two sequential terrorist attacks against the government, the civilian population and a summer camp in Norway on 22 July 2011....
.
Background
The First Domino play takes its name from the domino effectDomino effect
The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. The term is best known as a mechanical effect, and is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes...
, and was written as a response to a real-world nail bomb
Nail bomb
The nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device packed with nails to increase its wounding ability. The nails act as shrapnel, leading almost certainly to greater loss of life and injury in inhabited areas than the explosives alone would. The nail bomb is also a type of flechette weapon...
attack.
In 1999, David Copeland
David Copeland
David John Copeland is a former member of the British National Party and the National Socialist Movement, who became known as the "London Nail Bomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Bangladeshi and gay communities.Over three successive weekends between 17...
, a neo-nazi and former member of the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
, had decorated his bedroom with Nazi symbols and collected news stories on racist attacks. Copeland attempted to stir up ethnic and homophobic tension with a series of bombs targeting the minority communities of London. The first attack was in the largely black community of Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
on Saturday, . The second hit the Asian community of Brick Lane
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of...
on Saturday, . The third took place at a pub in Old Compton Street, Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
- the heart of London's gay community.
On Friday , a sunny evening after work, Jonathan Cashauthor of the play, and editor of The Gay Timeshad agreed to meet two friends in the Admiral Duncan
Admiral Duncan pub
The Admiral Duncan is a pub in Old Compton Street, Soho in the heart of London's gay district. It is named after Admiral Adam Duncan, who defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797.- Bombing :...
, as was usual for them. While he waited, patrons noticed an unattended bag. The previous two bombs had made Londoners wary; although they had been described as race-hate attacks, police had issued a warning that a gay bar could be the bomber's next target, and The Yard another pub in the area had displayed a poster warning customers to be alert.
The Admiral Duncan bomb, a home made device of fertiliser and nails, exploded at
David Copeland
David Copeland
David John Copeland is a former member of the British National Party and the National Socialist Movement, who became known as the "London Nail Bomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Bangladeshi and gay communities.Over three successive weekends between 17...
was convicted of murder on 30 June 2000, and given six concurrent life sentences. He had been diagnosed by five psychiatrists as having paranoid schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
. In 2007, the High Court ruled that he must serve at least 50 years.
Cash received financial compensation, and used it to fund an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Dramatic Writing at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, saying he "wanted to do something positive with the money".
Cash perceived Copeland as wanting to be the first domino, setting off a race war.
Development
It was several years after the bombing before Cash was able to write about the events with objectivity. He wrote The First Domino as part of his M.A. Dramatic Writing course at the University of Sussex, where he met Faynia Williams, who encouraged the development and directed the production.The play was produced by the Brighton Theatre and directed by Williams. It was a two-hander
Two-hander
Two-hander is a term for a play, movie, or television programme with only two main characters. The two characters in question often display differences in social standing or experiences, differences that are explored and possibly overcome as the story unfolds....
about a fictional terrorist being interviewed by a psychiatrist in a top-security prison. Danny Seldon (who used to be a marine) played the part of the terrorist, the doctor was played by Cary Crankson, and music was by Rory Cameron. with "surprising twists".
Cash and Williams' production company, Brighton Theatre, presented the play at Brighton Festival Fringe
Brighton Festival Fringe
The Brighton Festival Fringe is an open access arts festival held annually in Brighton, England. It is the largest annual arts festival in England.- Introduction :...
on , close to the of the bombing (though they state the date was coincidental). It was described as "honest and hard-hitting"
Cash was then commissioned by production company Unique (part of UBC Media Group) to rewrite the play for BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
's series of single dramas The Wire. The completely re-imagined piece was first broadcast on Saturday, . The cast list included Toby Jones
Toby Jones
Toby Edward Heslewood Jones is an English actor.-Early life:Jones was born in Hammersmith, London, the son of actors Jennifer and Freddie Jones...
, Joseph Kloska, Claire Price
Claire Price
Claire Price is an English actress. She is best known for her current portrayal as DS Siobhan Clarke in the TV drama Rebus broadcast on the ITV Network...
and Struan Rodger
Struan Rodger
Struan Rodger is a British actor who has appeared widely in a range of supporting roles. His first feature film role was as Eric Liddell's friend and running coach Sandy McGrath, in the Oscar-winning 1981 film, Chariots of Fire....
.
Less than a year later, Cash was quoted in The Guardian in a piece reacting to the 2011 Norway attacks
2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks were two sequential terrorist attacks against the government, the civilian population and a summer camp in Norway on 22 July 2011....
as conclusions were reached about the similarities between David Copeland
David Copeland
David John Copeland is a former member of the British National Party and the National Socialist Movement, who became known as the "London Nail Bomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Bangladeshi and gay communities.Over three successive weekends between 17...
and Anders Breivik. Cash said, "It has made me think about the words people use. How they create a landscape. When someone is being bigoted or homophobic, everybody should be asking questions."
Plot
The opening scene shows a young man kneeling on a Union JackUnion Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
, manufacturing a bomb, which is left menacingly on the stage. We meet him some time later, in a top-security prison, convicted for terrorism. He is interviewed by a psychiatrist who is engaged in research on sociopaths
Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is described by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition , as an Axis II personality disorder characterized by "...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood...
for an academic paper. The bomber's belief system, incorporating violent racism and homophobia, is revealed causing the audience to question their own beliefs. A series of psychological games
Mind Games
Mind Games is John Lennon's fourth post-Beatles album, and was recorded and released in 1973. Like his previous album, the politically topical and somewhat abrasive Some Time in New York City, Mind Games was poorly received by music critics...
starts between the prisoner and the psychiatrist, which challenges the audience's conceptions. Secrets are gradually revealed, reality is distorted, and the play ends with a surprising twist.
It is a play about hatred, which illustrates how violence breeds more violence. The complex relationship between bomber and psychiatrist fails to result in a solution.
Reception
A preview in The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in said it had "surprising twists [...] as the plot thickens", and one reviewer said it was "one of the most honest and hard hitting plays I have seen." The play received that year's Best Theatrical Performance Award.
A representative of the Gay Police Association
Gay Police Association
The Gay Police Association is a British police staff association with members in all 52 UK police forces. The GPA was founded in 1990 as LAGPA , and represents the needs and interests of gay and bisexual police officers and police staff in the United Kingdom...
hoped the play would raise awareness; the GPA helped to raise money for producing it, and recollections from the police influenced the story.
External links
- 10 Questions: An Interview with Jonathan Cash, Festival Previews blog