A new play, Pandemonium, by Armando Iannucci (1982, English) is due to open at London’s Soho Theatre on 1 December; the show will reunite him with with Alan Partridge and The Day Today star Patrick Marber, who is set to direct. Casting is yet to be announced.

Pandemonium, subtitled “Being A Scornful Account of the Activities of Mr Boris Johnson and ‘Others’ during the Pandemic and its Aftermath”, is described as “A funny, wild ongoing history play.”

Iannucci, who’s other credits include The Death of Stalin, In the Loop, and Veep, comments: “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.”

Earlier this year it was also announced that he would be adapting Stanley Kubrick’s darkly satirical 1964 film Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb for London’s West End during 2024.

In 2021, as one of our Univ in the Arts events, Iannucci talked Dickens with Jonathan Hourigan (1979, PPE), Head of Screenwriting at the London Film School, to discuss The Personal History of David Copperfield. Listen to the podcast.

With tickets starting at £15, Pandemonium runs at the Soho Theatre from 23 December until 6 January. Booking now at sohotheatre.com

Illustration by Andy Riley 

Published: 29 August 2023

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