1972. All eyes are on Reykjavík, Iceland ahead of ‘the Match of the Century’. Never before in chess history has a tournament attracted such global media attention. And for the two contenders, current world champion Boris Spassky and the maverick superstar Bobby Fischer, the stakes have never been higher – not only the world title, but unprecedented prize money and stratospheric fame are all on the table. But as the Cold War begins to heat up, each side of the Atlantic spots a major opportunity to demonstrate superiority over the other.
This gripping psychological thriller depicts a match that became a signature event of the Cold War, exploring how two very different individuals were co-opted to stand for contrasting political systems.
First performed at the Hampstead Theatre, 29th November 2019 to January 18th 2020, dir: Annabelle Comyn.
Ronan Raftery as Boris Spassky and Robert Emms as Bobby Fischer / photo by Manuel Harlan
“An elegant study of pressure and paranoia . . . Recounting the gruelling, 21-game clash, Ravens: Spassky vs Fischer is a taut and cerebral character study. ★★★★”
“Edgy, dark and somewhat twisted are not words one would expect to use to describe a play about chess. Tom Morton-Smith’s adaptation of the Spassky vs Fischer showdown manages to depict the Cold War-era phenomenon in a slightly different light to its Hollywood counterpart . . . everyone – from chess aficionados to those who have no interest in the game – can enjoy delving into the twisted events of this global spectacle. ★★★★”
Robert Emms as Bobby Fischer / photo by Manuel Harlan 2019