NHB Modern Plays-a small and quiet light

A gripping historical drama for the stage based on the true life story of the female British secret agent deployed to occupied France during World War Two. Premiered at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, and Orange Tree Theatre, London, in 2026. 'The current lifespan of an operator is six weeks. That's the most we can hope for your time out there.' October 1943. In a small office on the Avenue Foch in Paris, a Gestapo interrogator is questioning a young woman. As one of the secret agents of Britain's Special Operations Executive – and the first female radio operator to be sent undercover into France – she has evaded capture for far longer than most. But now she has been betrayed. As she faces her dreadful fate, memories come crowding in – a beloved father, a thwarted lover, a gruelling journey to war, and a persistent longing for her childhood piano. What has led her here? a small and quiet light is a gripping, intelligent play exploring the life of Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan: an extraordinarily courageous woman who paid the ultimate price for her heroic fight against fascism. Stephanie Street's play was first performed at Chichester Festival Theatre in a co-production with the Orange Tree Theatre, London, in 2026, starring Priyanga Burford and directed by Elin Schofield, before transferring to the Orange Tree.

Pagina's: 96, Paperback, Nick Hern Books