About

Based entirely on the words of those involved in the final phase of the Inquiry (which ended in November 2022), this new play interrogates why the testing regime failed to warn of the danger of installing inflammable materials, why manufacturers promoted such products with no regard to safety, why government regulations ignored the dangers and were not updated, and why politicians failed to ensure proper oversight. Through the testimonies of residents, it explores how they were failed by the London Fire Brigade on the night and abandoned by the Local Authority in the chaos of the fire’s aftermath.

Grenfell: System Failure will tour to three West London venues: The Playground Theatre (18 February – 25 February), The Tabernacle (27 February – 12 March) and the Marylebone Theatre (14 March – 26 March), bringing the production closer to the communities affected by the tragedy, than previously possible. This limited season is brought to the stage by the creative team responsible for Grenfell: Value Engineering at the Tabernacle, Birmingham Rep and on Channel 4, The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry – The Colour of Justice at the Tricycle Theatre, the National Theatre, in the West End and on BBC TV, and the Olivier Award-winning Saville Inquiry play, Bloody Sunday.

The Grenfell Inquiry is one of the most important public inquiries of the past two decades. It is a powerful example of the investigatory reach of the law and its ability to call people to account. It is of profound importance to the bereaved, survivors and residents who endured this terrible fire, especially with the Public Inquiry's focus on why it happened and who was responsible. The Inquiry's work should ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. The inquiry ran for five years, with closing statements given in November 2022. The final report that will determine the causes of the fire and the responsibilities of those involved, and make recommendations, will be published in 2023. This edited verbatim account of the inquiry is aimed at giving the public a clearer overview and access to the most significant evidence.