Alistair Beaton – författare

Fires are becoming something of a problem. But Biedermann has it all under control. He''s a respected member of the community with a loving wife and a flourishing business, so surely nothing can get to him. The great philanthropist is happy to meet his civic duty by giving shelter to two new guests but when they start filling his attic with petrol drums, will he help them light the fuse?

Max Frisch''s parable about appeasement is given its first major UK revival since its Royal Court premiere in 1961, which was directed by Lindsay Anderson.

The play is published as a programme text for the production that runs from 1 November - 15 December on the main stage at the Royal Court.

Fires are becoming something of a problem. But Biedermann has it all under control. He''s a respected member of the community with a loving wife and a flourishing business, so surely nothing can get to him. The great philanthropist is happy to meet his civic duty by giving shelter to two new guests but when they start filling his attic with petrol drums, will he help them light the fuse?

Max Frisch''s parable about appeasement is given its first major UK revival since its Royal Court premiere in 1961, which was directed by Lindsay Anderson.

The play is published as a programme text for the production that runs from 1 November - 15 December on the main stage at the Royal Court.

This is a story written over a decade ago.Before Fake News, or Alternative Facts, or even social media.It told the story of a not-too-distant future, which really was not too distant.*The President of the United States is facing a global catastrophe.The environment is in meltdown. People are dying. Americans are dying.Even he can''t ignore it.There''s hardly a corner of the world that isn''t in crisis.And that''s when he''s persuaded of a truth his advisers hold to be self-evident: That it''s time to think the unthinkable.The problem isn''t power, or politics, or the planet, or the President.It''s the People.*Hilarious and horrifying - this enormously entertaining satire has never been more razor-sharp, revelatory or relevant. What readers are saying about this hilarious, critically acclaimed novel:''For anyone who likes laughs and thrills in one package and who''s been following recent developments in the White House this is an absolute must.'' Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars''This political and satirical novel manages to be both thrilling and funny. And, given its prescience, scary too. The characters, the setting and the plot are fantastic and believable. A real page turner.'' Amazon Reviewer,5 stars''A frighteningly plausible thriller, which imagines what might happen if the White House were finally to believe that something had to be done about global warming ... clever, funny and a really good read.'' Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars''This thriller is packed with good jokes and tells a tale that is utterly credible. Parts were jaw-droppingly frightening and I wished I could have put it down but thesharp humour and pacey plot made me keep reading. It''s a laugh and a chiller in one book.'' Amazon Reviewer,5 stars

Old hacks meet new media in this BBC radio sitcom set in the changing world of the newspaper industry''The writing is tight, the characters astutely observed and the situation comedy inclusive'' Radio TimesMaddox is an old-school journalist struggling to keep up with new technology. He fears the art of finding stories is being forgotten, and is not about to let that happen. His online editor Freddy, however, will happily regurgitate a press release and call it a story. But they have a grudging respect for each other, as Freddy helps Maddox stay afloat in the world of Twitter, Facebook and podcasting and Maddox shows Freddy how to land a real scoop.Both are at the mercy of pragmatic editor Oliver, who simply wants to keep his job, and news editor Carol, who believes the public want more pieces on Big Mac-eating orang-utans and fewer of Max''s moral diatribes. And only Masha, the Russian head of online communities, knows Freddy''s secret: he''s not a hyper-cool kid from the street, but a posh boy from Eton...As the team attempt to cover major news stories while grappling with the demands of working in a multi-platform environment, can they stop circulation figures plummeting, keep their jobs and still retain their journalistic integrity?Robert Lindsay and John Sessions star in this witty satirical comedy, with Alex Jennings, Ben Willbond, Stephen Wight, Debbie Chazen and Polly Frame.Production creditsWritten by Alistair Beaton and Tom MitchelsonProduced and directed by Sally Avens