Peace in Our Time (play)
It is a work of alternative history, focusing on a group of Londoners in a pub close to Sloane Square, after Nazi Germany has won the Battle of Britain and successfully invaded and occupied the United Kingdom.The work takes inspiration from the real-life sufferings of French citizens during the German occupation of France, which Coward had followed closely.The production was directed by Alan Webb under Coward's supervision; it starred performers who became well known including Kenneth More, Bernard Lee, Elspeth March, and Maureen Pryor.It didn't take me long however to realise that, behind the facade, a great deal had changed; the sense of immediate relief had faded, and there was an atmosphere of subtle disintegration, lassitude and above all suspicion".[4] The play takes its title from a popular misquotation: the pre-war British prime minister, Neville Chamberlain proclaimed after meeting Adolf Hitler at the Munich Conference of 1938, "I believe it is peace for our time".[5][n 1] Coward was advised not to use the phrase for his title, but as his biographer Cole Lesley put it, "Of course he used it, only too delighted to do anything which might anger the pro-Munich lot".Coward wanted a cast of fresh new talent, and auditioned numerous rising actors including Kenneth More, who accepted a part, and Dirk Bogarde, who did not.The setting is the saloon bar of a London public house called The Shy Gazelle, somewhere between Knightsbridge and Sloane Square.News of events in Britain, on the radio and reported by customers, include the shooting of Winston Churchill, the State Opening of Parliament by Hitler, an attack on a German officer near the pub and the arrest of a local Jewish tailor by the SS.[8] In the assessment of Coward's biographer Sheridan Morley, the writer had uncharacteristically misjudged his moment: A 2014 article in the magazine Houstonia after the Houston revival detailed below, judged that the play explored interesting dramatic questions while still maintaining a close feeling of realism, such as how frustratingly "characters grumble about the indignity of foreign occupation, including food and drink rationing".
Elspeth MarchBernard LeeMaureen PryorNoël Cowardalternative historySloane SquareNazi GermanyBattle of BritaininvadedGerman occupation of FranceBrightonWest EndLyric TheatreAlan WebbKenneth MoreAldwych TheatreLiberationNazi occupationappeasersGestapolist of prominent public figuresBritish prime ministerNeville ChamberlainAdolf HitlerMunich ConferenceDirk BogardeTheatre Royal, BrightonShaftesbury AvenueBeatrice VarleyHazel TerryOlaf PooleyRalph MichaelDora BryanPhilip GuardDandy NicholsAlan BadelKnightsbridgeState Opening of Parliamentliberation of FranceHarold HobsonThe Sunday TimesThe Daily TelegraphW. A. DarlingtonGraham GreeneSheridan MorleyHoustoniaHoustonBroadwayoff West EndKing's Head TheatreBristol Old VicMain Street TheaterAyton WhitakerHypothetical Axis victory in World War IICultural impact of Noël CowardList of plays by CowardAnglicanBook of Common PrayerquislingLondon Calling!On with the DanceThis Year of GraceWords and MusicSet to MusicSigh No MoreOh, Coward!Cowardy CustardBitter SweetConversation PieceOperettePacific 1860Ace of ClubsAfter the BallSail AwayThe Girl Who Came to SupperThe Rat TrapI'll Leave It to YouThe Better HalfThe Young IdeaThe VortexHay FeverFallen AngelsEasy VirtueThe Queen Was in the ParlourSemi-MondeThis Was a ManSiroccoThe MarquiseHome ChatPrivate LivesPost-MortemCavalcadeDesign for LivingPoint ValaineTonight at 8.30Present LaughterThis Happy BreedBlithe SpiritSouth Sea BubbleRelative ValuesQuadrilleNude with ViolinLook After Lulu!Waiting in the WingsSuite in Three KeysIn Which We ServeBrief EncounterThe Astonished HeartPomp and CircumstancePresent IndicativeFuture IndefiniteThe Noël Coward DiariesTonight Is OursWe Were DancingMeet Me TonightPretty PollyRed PeppersHigh Spirits