Richard Vergette's play American Justice, set in an American prison against the backdrop of the Obama administration, began life as an hourlong piece called As We Forgive Them as part of Manchester's annual new writing event 24:7 Theatre Festival.

Under its new title and with a cast of three—Peter Tate, Ryan Gage and David Schaal—the play opens for a limited run at the Arts Theatre in London's West End in January 2013.

Vergette talks to David Chadderton about the background to the play's development and the issues that it tries to highlight.

For more information, see www.americanjusticetheplay.com or www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk.