The History of Production of the Works of Harold Pinter
The Pres and an Officer (2005)
Harold Pinter
Play script
English
A political satire featuring two characters, ‘the Pres’ and ‘an Officer’ and a third called simply voice, who remains absent throughout but speaks to the Pres at the other end of his phone line. The Pres is a hawkish political leader who does not flinch at ordering up the destruction of an entire city and whose performance of violence only emboldens him to engage in more.
The Pres and an Officer was discovered by Antonia Fraser in autumn 2017 on one of the yellow pads Harold Pinter used for writing. Its date of composition is uncertain, but probably dates from the time of George W Bush's presidency of the USA (2001-9).
Browse productions of The Pres and an Officer in the database
Date of Composition: 2005 - 2005 Confidence Level
Linked Works
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Publishers
The Guardian on (27 October 2017)
Sketch was discovered by Lady Antonia Fraser nine years after Harold Pinter's passing. It's date of composition is unknown. Place of composition likely 52 Campden Hill Square, London, Pinter's studio.
Faber and Faber Ltd on (18 January 2018) Confidence Level
Characters
Pres (Age: Not specified, Male)
Officer (Press and an Officer) (Age: Not specified, Male)
The gender is assumed to be male, but there is no indication in the text
Resources
Full text in The Guardian, 27 October 2017 (URL)
Type: Newspaper article
Sources
Amazon Media Website (UK)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pres-Officer-Harold-Pinter/dp/0571346707
URL
Publication details for the first paperback edition taken from site's webpage for the play [accessed 28 January 2019].
The Guardian Website
URL
Date of publication and summary (paraphrased) taken from 'The US president nukes the world: read Harold Pinter's newly discovered play', Antonia Fraser for The Guardian, 27/10/2017 [accessed 7 November 2017].