David Hare is skipping London and opening his new play in New York. “No fewer than 13 of Sir David’s previous works, including Racing Demon, Pravda and Plenty, have had their premieres at the National Theatre in London. However, Sir David said that his last stint there, for his play Stuff Happens two years ago, was ‘almost the most frustrating experience I have ever had in the theatre’. The National’s way of doing things, he said, was not helpful to playwrights.