My Country: a work in progress
We went to see this “play” at the National Theaatre on, ironically, St. Patrick’s Day. I say ironically, because we saw a play about the lack of clarity about what it means to be British on a day associated with the very established and internationally recognized identity of one of our constituent “parts”, the Irish.
I am sure that I could find some definition of “a play”, which My Country did not fulfill. In some sense, there were no personal relationships portrayed; there was no action; there was no plot; there was no drama. Yet, in another way, what could be more dramatic than the possible internal collapse of a great country? How could that story not be a plot? Who could say that Brexit and the state of the UK does not constitute action? And whatever happens in these most unpredictable times, the aftermath of Referendum Day will continue to have a massive impact on the relationships of nearly 70 million people.
The play is an anthology of quotes from Britons about the build up to and the fall-out from Referendum Day, 23 June 2016. Quotes from the great and the good, bad and the ugly (Cameron, May, Corbyn, Johnson, Gove and many more starred) and quotes from the people, the people from London-Derry, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the North-East, Leicester, Gloucester, Salisbury and Merthyr are masterfully crafted by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy into a passionate cry for something, but what? Sanity, cohesion, belief, faith, rationality?
I have seen it said of this work that it demonstrates mean, unpleasant, nations(s) retreating into a pessimistic dystopia. I don’t think that’s right. Its rather about a people flailing around blind and lost, without common purpose or direction. That at least was my impression. There was no commonality in almost anything debated, and a lot was at least mentioned. On the other hand there was plenty of wit, humour and nostalgia, but overall there was no sense of purpose or unity; in that sense the play was extremely depressing.
Is it possible that in a lifetime, as it happens almost exactly my lifetime, the UK could go from a nation that will forever be remembered for its finest hour to one totally lost in a world, rapidly gravitating towards continental entities built around smaller regional units? Or is it that Duffy had a peculiar ability to extract from the evidence a story that corroborated her feelings and attitudes, whilst another author could equally assemble a positive, clear picture of where we are going and how, say a picture of close relations with the EU, even the restoration of our role in the EU, and a renewal of a United Kingdom?
This was a confusing evening, stimulating a myriad of thoughts and emotions, not a restful, comforting one. I highly recommend it – if you wish to be provoked. The last show at the National Theatre is tomorrow, 22nd March, but then it goes on tour throughout the UK, returning to Stratford in the east end. For details see: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/my-country-uk-tour
Tony Belton
Tony Belton 