<DIV>In 1997, after many invitations, the fifty-year-old playwright resolved finally to visit the fifty-year-old state of Israel. The resulting play, written to be performed by the author himself, offers a meditation on an extraordinary trip to both Israel and the Palestinian territory, which leaves Hare questioning his own values as searchingly as the powerful beliefs of those he met.<br><br><i>Via Dolorosa</i> premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in September 1998 and transferred to the Booth Theatre, Broadway, in March 1999. Accompanying <i>Via Dolorosa</i> is the 1996 Eric Symes Memorial Lecture, <i>When Shall We Live?</i>, which addresses questions of faith.<br></div> <DIV><b>David Hare</b> was born in Sussex, England in 1947. His first play, <i>Slag</i>, was produced in 1970. His other works include <i>Plenty</i> (1978), <i>A Map of the World</i> (1983), and <i>Pravda</i> (1985). A founder of the Portable Theatre and the Joint Stock, he became resident dramatist and literary manager of the Royal Court Theatre, London (1967–71), and at the Nottingham Playhouse (1973). Until recently, Hare served as director of the National Theatre, London. In 1982, Hare founded a film company, Greenpoint Films. He has written several screenplays including <i>Plenty</i> (1985), <i>Weatherby </i>(1985),<i> Strapless</i> (1989), and <i>Damage</i> (1992). Several of his best-known plays, <i>The Secret Rapture</i>, <i>Racing Demon</i>, <i>Skylight</i>, <i>The Judas Kiss</i>, <i>Via Dolorosa</i> and <i>Amy's View</i> have been presented on Broadway.<br></div> <DIV>In 1997, after many invitations, the fifty-year-old playwright resolved finally to visit the fifty-year-old state of Israel. The resulting play, written to be performed by the author himself, offers a meditation on an extraordinary trip to both Israel and the Palestinian territory, which leaves Hare questioning his own values as searchingly as the powerful beliefs of those he met.<br><br><i>Via Dolorosa</i> premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in September 1998 and transferred to the Booth Theatre, Broadway, in March 1999. Accompanying <i>Via Dolorosa</i> is the 1996 Eric Symes Memorial Lecture, <i>When Shall We Live?</i>, which addresses questions of faith.<br></div> <DIV>"Hare has written a piece that, in a modest, moving way, illuminates not only the Arab-Israeli conflict but also some of the other confrontations that keep the world on bloody edge . . . it is a very particular recollection, written by a playwright attempting to give theatrical fiction a new dimension of reality . . .<i> Via Dolorosa </i>has such an astonishing abundance of stories, characters and ideas that, when you leave the theatre, you feel as if you have lived through some crazy, continuing epic."—<b><i>The New York Times</i></b> <br><br>"It reinforces one's faith in theatre as a means of communication . . . a deeply moving theatrical mosaic."—<b><i>The Guardian</i></b> <br></div>