Value Engineering: Scenes from the Grenfell Inquiry

(Paperback)

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Value Engineering: Scenes from the Grenfell Inquiry is a verbatim reconstruction of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. Using only the words spoken at the Inquiry, the play deals predominantly with Part 2 which ran between January 2020 - July 2021 in which evidence was heard from those responsible for the disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell Tower before the tragic fire. Edited by Richard Norton-Taylor and directed by Nicholas Kent, the team behind previous testimonial plays The Colour of Justice: The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and Bloody Sunday: Scenes from the Saville Inquiry, this edited verbatim account of the Grenfell Inquiry is aimed at giving the public an overview and access to some of the most important evidence. The play shows how companies involved in the refurbishment of the Tower conspired to cover up what they knew about the dangerous and life-threatening materials used to refurbish the Tower. It also reveals the incompetence and neglect of local authorities. Staged in Notting Hill Tabernacle in October 2021, this features the full text of the play alongside additional information on the context of Grenfell and the ongoing inquiry.

Reviews

Vital verbatim staging...There's nothing like seeing this evidence live, it conveys how easily bureaucratic incompetence, prejudice, corruption and lies in our society crystallises into evil. * WhatsOnStage *
Gruelling, unfinished tragedy ... it feels both pointed and discomforting ... it is a particular kind of political theatre which makes no attempts to be dramatic, re-enacting the inquiry with an emphatic lack of theatricality. * Guardian *
Enlightening drama refuses to play blame game * Times *
Essential viewing ... grimly compelling study of systemic rottenness * Telegraph *

Author Bio

Richard Norton-Taylor: Writer on defense and Security Editor The Guardian (1975-2016). Journalist & playwright. Books include: Truth is a Difficult Concept & State of Secrecy. His work combating official secrecy led to the Freedom of Information Campaigns in 1986 & 1994. Liberty Human Rights Campaign of the Year Award in 2010 Collaborated with Nicolas Kent on eight verbatim plays on Trials and Public Inquiries. All his theatre work has been published; much of it broadcast on BBC TV or Radio. He won a Time Out award in 1993 and an Olivier Award in 2005.