Skip to main content
Nederlands

My Country; a work in progress

National Theatre of Great Britain

In the days after the EU referendum last year, when 52% of British people voted for Brexit, the National Theatre began a nationwide listening project. A team of interviewers spoke to people around the country – from Leicester to Derry/Londonderry and Merthyr Tydfil to Glasgow – to hear their views of where and how they live: their opinions; their fears; their passions. Using exact words taken from the interviews, Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, collaborates with Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, to put the people of Britain centre stage. 'uncategorisable brilliance..., it's all done with good humour' Independent ★★★★★ ‘compassionate, funny and insightful’ WhatsOnStage ★★★★ Programme book

In the days after the EU referendum last year, when 52% of British people voted for Brexit, the National Theatre began a nationwide listening project. A team of interviewers spoke to people around the country – from Leicester to Derry/Londonderry and Merthyr Tydfil to Glasgow – to hear their views of where and how they live: their opinions; their fears; their passions. Using exact words taken from the interviews, Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, collaborates with Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, to put the people of Britain centre stage. 'uncategorisable brilliance..., it's all done with good humour' Independent ★★★★★ ‘compassionate, funny and insightful’ WhatsOnStage ★★★★ Programme book

(1835). In The Gabriels director Richard Nelson reflects on the recent American election year through the eyes of an ordinary family. Other artists focus on controversies in democracies, such as the issue of refugees in directors Dieudonné Niangouna and Thomas Bellinck’s performances. Others address the threat of violence (Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed), tyranny (Octavia), or shaping activism (The Tempest Society). In Manifesto the film director Julian Rosefeldt examines the relation between art and society. 

 

We are presenting two national theatre production companies, each with its own state of the nation: My Country by the National Theatre in London, and The Nation by the Dutch National Theatre in The Hague. Both performances show divided countries in which no one, from politicians to citizens, seems to dare to take responsibility. We also believe that it is important to explore democracy of form. Members of the audience can get actively involved as a passer-by, participant, or activist, if they so wish. Our artists encourage you to question the old hierarchy between the audience and the artists.

 

This year several festival artists are looking at the problems faced by Western democracies. The French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville admired democracy for its social equality. He saw its dangers too. Director Romeo Castellucci is making Democracy in America, based on De Tocqueville’s eponymous book

Read less

dates

Wed June 7 2017 8:00 PM

Thu June 8 2017 8:00 PM

information

  • English

  • Duration of performance unknown (geen pauze)

related

credits

direction Rufus Norris text Carol Ann Duffy set design Katrina Lindsay light design Paul Knott sound design Alex Caplen music David Shrubsole cast Stuart McQuarrie, Penny Layden, Laura Elphinstone, Seema Bowri, acht Britse kunstorganisaties, Cusack Projects Limited production National Theatre

This performance is made possible by

you might also like