“I wanted to create a monster who was watchable and believable,” says Jonathan Cash, of his debut play. Ten years ago, the 39-year-old Brightonian survived neo-Nazi David Copeland’s nail-bomb attack on the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho. Intended to stir up homophobia, three people died in the incident. Cash suffered injuries to his face, shoulder, hands and legs.

But when, during a masters degree in dramatic writing at the University Of Sussex, he decided to write a play based on his experiences, he was determined to keep it objective.

“I didn’t actually want to write about anything to do with the Admiral Duncan – I didn’t know if I could. So it was a bit overwhelming when I did it.

“But this wasn’t therapy. I thought writing about it in a biographical way would make for terrible theatre, so I decided to start writing a dialogue between a fictional terrorist and what turned out to be his prison doctor.”

One of the play’s main conceits is its portrayal of the terrorist. Far from being a cartoonish figure of hate, Cash has chosen to make him charming and articulate, someone audiences find themselves liking.

“The real-life bomber had preconceptions about gay, Asian and black people and it suddenly occurred to me when I was writing it, what about our preconceptions of terrorists? You expect them to be hateful and inarticulate, but what if they’re not?”

The play will be staged in the intimate, dark downstairs area of the Latest Music Bar. “It adds to the atmosphere,” says Cash.”It’s quite claustrophobic, dark and broody.”

Was he concerned about tackling an incident that affected so many people in different ways? “I didn’t write this thinking it would end up being performed but since everything has taken off, I’ve become a little anxious about people’s reactions,” he says. “The two friends I was due to meet at the pub arrived later than the explosion and I was on my own, so I don’t know any one else who was there that day.

“I do worry about people thinking I’m speaking out for them – I’m not. I’m not a political or social spokesman.

I just wanted to write a good play.”

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