Sleaze, sex and the pursuit of political power have driven politicians for centuries. The proof is in Waste, the Greenwich Playhouse's latest production.

The play was written in 1906 by Granville Barker but was banned, revised and then finally produced in the 1930s.

It is set in the corridors of power where an adulterous affair leads to an unwanted pregnancy and ends with death. Seeing the then Tory shadow cabinet dealing with a sex scandal shows, when pursuing power, sleaze, pragmatism at the expense of ideals, and corruption are not just phenomena restricted to today.

Director Tristan Brolly, 31, said he enjoyed Barker's writing as a student.

"Several scenes in this play, due to the quality of the writing, had really hooked me.

"These scenes, what those involved in the show now call the 'seduction', the 'unwanted pregnancy', and the 'shadow cabinet' leapt off the page waiting for me to direct them."

Granville Barker was an actor, playwright, director and academic and perhaps one of the most influential figures in early twentieth century British theatre but Brolly believes the writing is extremely relevant today.

Brolly got into drama at school acting and directing his first play at 17. After graduating he directed his first show outside of college at the then Prince Theatre now the Greenwich Playhouse. Since then, he has worked all over Britain and the world.

"But," he said: "I'm glad to be returning to the Greenwich Playhouse to revive Granville Barker's terrific play, Waste.

"And symbolically it is another first, as I have not directed the classics before."

q Nov 13-Dec 9, Waste, Greenwich Playhouse, Greenwich High Road, Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 4pm, £9 (conc £7) £6 groups of 6+, 020 8858 9256.

November 5, 2001 11:22