Synopsis

Cambridge and Prague, 1968-1990. A world of intellectual debates, political idealism, and rock ‘n’ roll collides with the harsh realities of Soviet oppression and Western disillusionment.

Jan, a Czech student studying in Cambridge, returns to Prague during the Prague Spring of 1968, leaving behind his mentor Max, a committed Communist professor. As history unfolds over the next two decades, their lives and ideologies are tested against the backdrop of political upheaval, personal loss, and cultural revolution.

Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll is a sweeping exploration of the interplay between politics, philosophy, and popular culture. Through a series of scenes that span multiple countries and decades, the play examines the evolution of leftist thought, the power of music as a form of resistance, and the personal costs of political conviction. Stoppard’s trademark wit and intellectual rigor are on full display as characters debate everything from Marxism to the metaphysical implications of consciousness, all while grappling with love, loyalty, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.