Robbins attacks war play critics

Actor Tim Robbins has staunchly defended his critically-mauled satirical Iraq war play Embedded, insisting the show is thrilling audiences.

The Mystic River star - whose show focuses on the media coverage of the conflict - is convinced critics despise the play because they hate to see people in their own field of work mocked.

He says: "Everywhere we go we get terrible reviews but great responses. I don't believe people in the media take criticism very well. Some are reviewing it as if it's a news programme instead of a satire."

Robbins, an outspoken critic of the US-led war against Iraq, wrote the play to examine the policy of "embedding" news journalists with coalition troops during the war.

Embedded is being performed at The Riverside Studio in Hammersmith, London, until October 23.