The Hard Problem: Tom Stoppard turns out a dud

Stoppard's first play in nine years packed with ideas but 'dramatically a dud', say critics

THE HARD PROBLEM by Stoppard,, Writer - Tom Stoppard, Director - Nicholas Hytner, Designer - Bob Crowley, Lighting - Mark Henderson, The National Theatre, 2015, Credit: Johan Persson/
(Image credit: JOHAN PERSSON)

Tom Stoppard's much-anticipated new play, The Hard Problem, his first for the stage in nine years, has divided the critics as it opens at the National Theatre.

Stoppard, best known for his hit play Arcadia and screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, is sometimes described as Britain's greatest living playwright, but this new work, which explores the relationship between the brain and consciousness, has left many critics cold.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us