Economics at the National Theatre - The Power of Yes

Those who are within travelling distance of the National Theatre in London might be interested in a new production about the origins of the recession and financial crisis, The Power of Yes. The Theatre’s publicity introduces the play:

Capitalism works when greed and fear are in the correct balance. This time they got out of balance. Too much greed, not enough fear.

A dramatist seeks to understand the financial crisis. On 15 September 2008, capitalism came to a grinding halt. As sub-prime mortgages and toxic securities continued to dominate the headlines, this spring the National Theatre asked David Hare to write an urgent and immediate work to be staged this autumn that sought to find out what had happened, and why.

Meeting with many of the key players from the financial world, David Hare, author of The Permanent Way and Stuff Happens, has created The Power of Yes: a compelling narrative, as enlightening as it is entertaining. Not so much a play as a jaw-dropping account of how, as the banks went bust, capitalism was replaced by a socialism that bailed out the rich alone.

The play will run between September 29th and January 10th, and schools can buy tickets for £12 – the link to the theatre’s website is here.

The National Theatre also offers a suggested reading list to accompany the production, which includes some of the books which have been recently recommended in blogs here as well as some other new ideas.