Playwright David Hare on the continued relevance of 'The Absence of War'

David Hare's play The Absence of War returns to the stage in Sheffield tonight at the start of a UK tour.

David Hare has told James Naughtie about the play's parallels to the Labour Party today, and director Jeremy Herrin has explained why the play still works now.

Written after Hare was allowed by Neil Kinnock to attend Labour party strategy meetings in the run up to the 1992 election, the play follows party leader George Jones who is so constricted by his advisers that his talents are no longer visible to the public.