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Summer 1945. Hitler is dead, but the war in the Pacific rages on. When six of Germany's top nuclear scientists – including three Nobel Prize winners – are detained by Allied forces at a stately home in the Cambridgeshire countryside, they find themselves shut off from the outside world. Their only distractions are board games, a broken piano and a copy of Blithe Spirit. But as the months go by, their attention turns to the ongoing war and thoughts of their broken homeland.
The scientists' tranquil summer is shattered by the inconceivable news that the Americans have succeeded where the Germans have failed: the United States has not only built an atomic bomb, but they have used one against Japan.
Katherine Moar's captivating debut play Farm Hall dramatises the true story recorded inside the bugged walls of the actual Farm Hall between July 1945 and January 1946. It was premiered at Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in March 2023, before transferring to the Theatre Royal Bath, directed by Stephen Unwin.
“A riveting drama that unravels like an intelligent thriller whose ending we know but is nail-biting nonetheless... packed with learning but never shows off... a punchy, accomplished play.”—Guardian
“A thoroughly absorbing series of vignettes.”—The Times
“Riveting... a writer to watch.”—Daily Mail
“Complex and fascinating.”—The Stage
“A surprising black comedy with a provocative philosophical background... Moar explores [the characters'] remorse - or lack thereof - with subtle humour... beautifully written with a sophisticated use of language... an excellent debut: interesting, well-written, thought-provoking, and sheds light on a slice of history that's rarely discussed.”—Broadway World
“Like a Nobel Prize-heavy version of Celebrity Big Brother”—Reviews Hub
“Gripping... With its mix of moral dilemmas and possible revelations, it feels like the real thing.”—British Theatre Guide
“Excellent... a captivating dramatic thriller based on a fascinating true story.”—Everything Theatre
“Subtle, thoughtful new plays are rare. This is one.”—Sunday Times
Katherine Moar is a writer from Bath. Her plays include Ragdoll (Jermyn Street Theatre, London, 2025) and Farm Hall (Jermyn Street Theatre, 2023; West End, 2024). She is also studying for a PhD at King’s College London and the Imperial War Museum.