Famous Faces

Famous Faces are a frequent trope in Graham’s plays and have become an increasing focus of his work as a means to reconsider and re-examine soft-power influences within society. This chapter first considers how the writer has created and applied Incidental-Celebrity figures—a term applied here to the fleeting appearances of very high-profile artists, musicians and well-known personalities—that flow through the background of Graham’s dramas. While an entertaining recognition point for audiences, these characters have useful contextual roles, a dramatic shorthand that conveys key information. Celebrity-Protagonists are the subject of the second half of this chapter, looking at plays driven by recognisable faces including Ink, Quiz, Best of Enemies and Dear England, explaining their common trajectory in Graham’s work from hopeful innovator to facing their last chance to impress in their field before they are eventually consumed by the unexpected forces their actions unleash.