A quick-witted satirical farce set in the Whips' office at Westminster. It's a week before Christmas, and the new Tory government is facing dissent over its latest Bill. With a majority of only three, the Whips' office is out in full force, and they'll stop at nothing to keep the strays in line. But they're in for a long night: boy scouts are rioting in Whitehall, the PM's golfing with the President, five Tory rebels are on the loose and the Chief Whip's playing at Santa – could this be the beginnings of a leadership challenge? Steve Thompson's play Whipping It Up is a fast-moving switchback of a comedy, with more twists and double-bluffs than a poker game between conmen. It was first staged at the Bush Theatre, London, in November 2006, in a production starring Richard Wilson. It transferred to the West End in March 2007. 'The sharpest new comedy of the year' — Telegraph 'Pungent... the funniest political satire since Alistair Beaton's Feelgood' — Guardian 'A vitriolic political comedy that makes the average alligator pond look like a health spa' — Sunday Times