Overtures of war . . .

KIKA Markham (right) will lead Mike Bartlett’s play Not Talking into the Arcola Theatre in Hackney from April 25, alongside David Horowitz, Lawrence Walker and Gemma Lawrence.

The play was first broadcast on Radio 3, 12 years ago; when it starred Richard Briers and June Whitfield (I was listening). It explored conscientious objection during World War II, and bullying in the Armed Services in Iraq. James Hillier, who will direct the stage piece, organised the production through his Defibrillator theatre company and the Arcola. He said it’s about ‘abuse of power’. The two war themes are linked by a piece of music — Chopin’s Raindrops — which Markham and Ms Lawrence will play live on stage.