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The First Domino

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The First Domino
Theatrical poster for the play "The First Domino"; text shows the dates 19–23 May and location of Brighton theatre with details, overlaid on a stylised scattering of nails, in shades of grey and some in red
Written byJonathan Cash
Date premiered19 May 2009(2009-05-19)[1]
Place premieredUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish

The First Dominois a 2009 English play about a fictional terrorist bomber, written by Jonathan Cash, who was injured in the 1999 bombing of theAdmiral Duncan pubin Soho, London byDavid Copeland.

In 1999, Cash was standing in the pub when the third and final nail-bomb exploded in a campaign targeting minorities. He received compensation, and used it to fund a university course in Dramatic Writing. Some years later, he developed atwo-handerplay about a convicted terrorist being interviewed in prison by a psychiatrist. It premièred at theBrighton Festival FringeinMay 2009,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 theattacks in Norway.

Background

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low-resolution monochrome image showing several people in a pub, scattering; one is a policeman. One man, his face circled, sits on the floor in front of the bar, looking bemused.
Photograph showing Cash, injured, moments after the bomb.

The First Dominoplay takes its name from thedomino effect,and was written as a response to a real-worldnail bombattack.[2]

In 1999,David Copeland,aNeo-Naziand former member of theBritish National Party,who was found to have decorated his bedroom with Nazi symbols and collected news stories on racist attacks,[3][4]intended to stir up ethnic and homophobic tension with a series of bombs targeting the minority communities of London.[5]The first attack was in the largely black community ofBrixtonon Saturday,17 April 1999.The second hit the Asian community ofBrick Laneon Saturday,24 April 1999.[6]The third took place at a pub in Old Compton Street,Soho– the heart of London's gay community.[5]

On Friday30 April 1999,a sunny evening after work, Jonathan Cash – author of the play[3]– had agreed to meet two friends in theAdmiral Duncan,as was usual for them.[7]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.[3] The Admiral Duncan bomb, a home made device of fertiliser and nails, exploded at6:37 p.m.[7]

It was the loudest, most alien noise I have ever heard. It ripped through the building. I really can't say how long it lasted; a few seconds perhaps. I can't remember, but there was a crunch of something solid, something structural. But what I can remember is the acrid smell, the sulphurous dust. My ears were ringing, my eyes were smarting, the dust filled my nose making it hard to breathe.

— Jonathan Cash,Pink News[7]
A blue/purple public house with large prominent signage as "The Admiral Duncan". A rainbow flag is above it, and a number of garbage bags are on the pavement in the foreground.
The Sohogay barwhere the final bombing occurred

Three people died as a result of the blast (including a pregnant woman) and many more were seriously hurt,[4]including Cash, who was standing close to the bomb; he received injuries to his back and shoulder, and burns to his face and legs.[1][2]

David Copelandwas convicted of murder on 30 June 2000, and given six concurrent life sentences.[8]He had been diagnosed by five psychiatrists as havingparanoid schizophrenia.[9]In 2007, the High Court ruled that he must serve at least 50 years.[10]

Cash receivedfinancial compensation,and used it to fund anMAin Dramatic Writing at theUniversity of Sussex,saying he "wanted to do something positive with the money".[1]

Cash perceived Copeland as wanting to be the first domino, setting off a race war.[4]

Plot

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The opening scene shows a young man kneeling on aUnion Jack,manufacturing a bomb, which is left menacingly on the stage.[11]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 onsociopathsfor an academic paper. The bomber's belief system, incorporating violent racism and homophobia, is revealed – causing the audience to question their own beliefs.[11]A series ofpsychological gamesstarts 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.[12] 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.[11]

Reception

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A preview inThe GuardianinMay 2009said it had "surprising twists [...] as the plot thickens",[1]and one reviewer said it was "one of the most honest and hard hitting plays I have seen".[13]The play received that year's Best Theatrical Performance Award.[14]

A representative of theGay Police Associationhoped the play would raise awareness; the GPA helped to raise money for producing it, and recollections from the police influenced the story.[1]

Development

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It was several years after the bombing before Cash was able to write about the events with objectivity.[1]He wroteThe First Dominoas part of his M.A. Dramatic Writing course at the University of Sussex,[2]where he met Faynia Williams, who encouraged the development and directed the production.[1][2]

The play was produced by the Brighton Theatre and directed by Williams.[2]It was atwo-handerabout a fictional terrorist being interviewed by a psychiatrist in a top-security prison. Danny Seldon (who used to be amarine[1]) played the part of the terrorist, the doctor was played by Cary Crankson, and music was byRory Cameron.[15][13]with "surprising twists".[1]

Cash and Williams's production company, Brighton Theatre, presented the play atBrighton Festival Fringeon19 May 2009,close to the10th anniversaryof the bombing (though they state the date was coincidental).[1][14]It was described as "honest and hard-hitting".[13]

Cash was then commissioned by production company Unique (part of UBC Media Group) to rewrite the play forBBC Radio 3's series of single dramasThe Wire.The completely re-imagined piece was first broadcast on Saturday,9 October 2010.[14]The cast list includedToby Jones,Joseph Kloska,Claire PriceandStruan Rodger.[14][16]

Less than a year later, Cash was quoted inThe Guardianin a piece reacting to the2011 Norway attacksas conclusions were reached about the similarities betweenDavid CopelandandAnders Behring Breivik.[17]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".[17]

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijElla Marshall (13 May 2009)."Jonathan Cash has written a play based around the Soho pub bombing".The Guardian.London.Retrieved27 July2011.
  2. ^abcdeEmily-Ann Elliott (5 May 2009)."Bomb survivor writes Brighton play".The Argus.Retrieved27 July2011.
  3. ^abcSimon Edge."Look Back in Anger".Gay Times. Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2011.Retrieved30 July2011.
  4. ^abc"On This Day: Dozens injured in Soho nail bomb".BBC. 30 April 1999.Retrieved27 July2011.
  5. ^ab"Outrage marks new departure not just for Norway but for Europe in general – The Irish Times – Mon, Jul 25, 2011".25 July 2011.Retrieved5 August2011.
  6. ^Nick Hopkins, Sarah Hall (30 June 2000)."David Copeland: a quiet introvert, obsessed with Hitler and bombs".The Guardian.London.Retrieved27 July2011.
  7. ^abcJonathan Cash (30 April 2009)."Admiral Duncan bombing: The day my life changed forever".Pink News.Retrieved30 July2011.
  8. ^Buncombe, Andrew; Judd, Terri; and Bennett, Jason."'Hate-filled' nailbomber is jailed for life",The Independent,30 June 2000.
  9. ^Hopkins, Nick and Hall, Sarah."David Copeland: a quiet introvert, obsessed with Hitler and bombs",The Guardian,30 June 2000.
  10. ^Attewill, Fred."London nail bomber must serve at least 50 years",The Guardian,2 March 2007.
  11. ^abcNicholas Quirke."Brighton Fringe 2009,The First Domino".Fringe Review.Retrieved30 July2011.
  12. ^"Jonathan Cash".The Playwrights Database.Retrieved30 July2011.
  13. ^abcHoward Young (20 May 2009)."Honest & Hard Hitting Play Based on Real Issues & Difficult Topics @ Latest Music Bar".Brighton Magazine.Retrieved27 July2011.
  14. ^abcd"Programmes – The Wire, The First Domino".BBC Radio 3.Retrieved27 July2011.
  15. ^"Latest Homes Magazine » Archive » Living in Brighton: Rory Cameron".Retrieved30 July2011.
  16. ^"The First Domino".Unique production company,UBC Media Group.Retrieved27 July2011.
  17. ^abHugh Muir (26 July 2011)."Hideously diverse Britain: Fighting the domino effect of intolerance".The Guardian.London.Retrieved27 July2011.
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