Performance dates: 3-8 April 2000
Venue: The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke

'Chess' begins with a description of the invention, and early history of the game of Chess (Song: The Story of Chess)

A match for the World Championship has been announced for the Tirolean town of Merano in Northern Italy. The citizens and mayor of Merano are ready to greet the arrival of the American champion, Freddie Trumper, in full civic splendour. Trumper arrives during the celebrations, and snubs the awaiting reception committee, leaving handshakes and apologies to be made by his second, Florence Vassy. Other members of his delegation include Walter de Courcey, the CIA 'Manager' of the team. His behaviour is a calculated attempt to raise interest and ensure that there is Standing Room Only (S.R.O.) at the match.(Song: Merano)

We then enter the Russian camp of the challenger Anatoly Sergievsky, where they have been discussing the latest outburst by Freddie Trumper at a press conference. The sinister KGB man, Molokov, has explained his ideas for 'off-the-board' tactics, with particular reference to Florence. Anatoloy prefers to play chess and escape from his so-called friends. 'They called me their friend, I hardly knew them.' Song: The Crazy Wheel

The Russian and American delegates meet in the Arbiter's chambers for friendly discussions - but the undertones of the veneer of sportsmanship are far from friendly.(Song: The US versus USSR). The rules of the match are clear: the first man to win six games will be declared the new world champion; drawn games will not count. Now the Arbiter asserts his authority. 'From square one, I'll be watching all sixty-four'.(Song: The Arbiters song)

No sooner have the players and officials declared their dedication to the pure and noble spirit of the game of Chess, than the stage is taken over by the marketing men determined to make a financial killing by exploiting the match. 'We are here to tell you, we are here to sell you Chess'.(Song: The Merchandisers)

The match then begins, and Freddie wins two games quickly. The next game, however, ends in uproar after the players, irritated by each other's disturbing mannerisms, and even a kick under the table, come to blows and upset the board. Freddie storms out, leaving Florence, Molokov and the Arbiter to sort out the mess with Anatoly.(Song: Quartet - A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)

Florence has arranged a meeting with Anatoly in a mountainside inn. Freddie has also not been idle, but has negotiated improved financial conditions for a resumption of play. He is annoyed that Florence, a former Hungarian, is doing business with the Russians. The two row and Freddie leaves Florence alone to review their relationship.(Song: Nobody's side)

Florence and Anatoly meet at the Inn. For some time they both wait for Freddie, not speaking to each other. In his continuing absence they finally talk, admit their attraction for each other, and end in an embrace. The mood is broken by Freddie's entrance. He accuses Florence of plotting with the very country which deprived her of her father in Hungary in 1956. 'Where's Daddy? Dead or in the KGB?'.(Song: Mountainside duet)

The match between Trumper and Sergievsky is resumed, but the American goes quickly downhill. Five-Two down and with a hopeless position in an unfinished game, he is on the verge of losing his title. To add to his troubles, Florence finally deserts him. Left alone, Freddie remembers the unhappy childhood which led to his present state of emotional isolation. (Song: Pity the child).

Sergievsky is proclaimed the new champion. The Russians rejoice but their mood changes to anger when the hero of the moment breaks from their ranks and runs off with Florence. The news comes that he is applying for political asylum in Britain. At the consulate, however, the civil servants sound less impressed than they might be. 'Far too many jokers cross the border.' (Song: Embassy Lament)

As the formalities for Anatoly's defection go through, Florence anticipates the problems of her new relationship, and where it will lead. (Song: Heaven help my heart)

Anatoly is surprised to be ambushed by reporters, tipped off by CIA man Walter, seeking to make political capital from his defection. He denies that he is leaving anything, and alone tells of the love for his own land. (Song: Anthem)

The second act begins in Bangkok, one year later, where Sergievsky is now defending his title against the new Soviet challenger, Leonid Viigand. Ex-champion Trumper is there again, but this time apparently only as a TV Reporter.(Song: One night in Bangkok)

The Russian camp are showing signs of worry. Molokov puts them at their ease by extolling the virtues of their automaton-like champion, Viigand, and explaining his plans to disconcert Anatoly by arranging a confrontation with his wife. Cheered by the plotting, they drink themselves into a stupor.(Song: The Soviet Machine)

Svetlana, Anatoly's wife, arrives in Bangkok. She and Florence sing about their very different impressions of the man they both love, and think they know so well. (Song: I know him so well)

The pressures mount on Anatoly as his match with Viigand reaches its Climax. He must win the last game to retain his title, but he is encouraged to throw in the game in order to ensure the freedom of Florence's father, now discovered to be alive in the Soviet Union by Walter. (Song: Endgame)

Anatoly has won the final game brilliantly. Now he realises that the only solution to his other problems is for him to return to the Soviet Union. He and Florence sing of the unhappy end to their romance. 'But we go on pretending, stories like ours have happy endings'.(Song: You and I)

Once Anatoly has left, Walter comes across Florence at the airport, and in a final act of spite informs her that they will get her father out of Siberia, assuming that he is still alive....... Florence closes off with an emotional song relating to the inhumanity around her. (Song: Epilogue - Using Our Lives for Nothing)

The show plays out to the Song: The Story of Chess