by Christine Bacon and Noah Birksted-Breen.

iceandfire’s 2010 production is a new play about six journalists who are linked by their determination to challenge the official version of the truth in their countries.

‘When I’m writing articles, I’m not scared at all. I’m on a high. It’s such a rush. The fear comes later.’

The Wickrematunge brothers in Sri Lanka start a newspaper to publish stories that the other papers won’t touch. Lydia uncovers a Mexican child pornography ring involving politicians and businessmen. Elena investigates mafia collusion with the police in Moscow. Zoriah documents the aftermath of a suicide bombing in Iraq and the US military try to censor his images. Amira is the only Jewish Israeli journalist ever to have lived and worked in the Occupied Palestinian territories. Jit Man writes about injustice in Nepal and is targeted by the security forces.

On The Record weaves together these individuals stories using both their real words and reconstructed scenes from their lives, allowing us to explore the daily lives of those who are linked by their determination to shed light on dark places.

‘During the entire Iraq war, only five images have been published showing dead US service members. Two of those are mine. …’

On the Record was developed with the support of the National Theatre Studio.

The Characters

Lydia Cacho – a Mexican journalist who uncovered an international paedophile ring working out of Cancun. She was abducted and tortured on the orders of a governor in Mexico but later released, and continues to work despite regular threats to her life.

Jitman Basnet – a Nepalese lawyer and journalist who was arbitrarily detained, tortured and held incommunicado for 258 days because of his criticism of the monarchy and his documentation of human rights abuses.

Lal Wickrematunge – the brother of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, assassinated in Sri Lanka in January 2009. Lal has decided to continue working on the paper, despite the dangers.

Elena Kostyuchenko – a young journalist at Novaya Gazeta in Russia, who investigates business and political corruption despite threats to her and her family.

Zoriah Miller - an American photojournalist who completed two ‘embeds’ in Iraq (2007 and 2008) and whose moving and graphic images US military tried to censor. He wanted people ‘to be able to associate the numbers they hear in the media all the time with the image of the scene and the actual loss of human life.’

Amira Hass – Amira is the only Jewish Israeli reporter living in Occupied Palestine – formerly in Gaza City, and now based out of Ramallah. She is a correspondent for the Israeli daily Ha’aretz and is an outspoken critic of the occupation.