Friday 6 April 2018

Theatre: Our Country's Good........


A Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company Production in co-production with Ramps on the Moon
By Timberlake Wertenbaker
Based on The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally

     Our Country’s Good is both a comedy and a powerful drama which shows us how we can escape the chains that bind us.
     In 1787, ships each with over 700 convicts on board set sail on an eight month voyage. When they arrive in Australia, their survival is by no means certain: supplies are running out, the convicts are stealing food or trying to escape and the guards are threatening mutiny.
  Our Country’s Good tells the extraordinary true story of a group of convicts and a young officer who rehearse and perform a play – Australia’s first theatrical production. With opposition from the officers and a leading lady who may be hanged, the odds are stacked against them.

Our Country’s Good is a touring production made in co‑production with Ramps on the Moon, whose previous collaborations over the last two years include the comedy hit The Government Inspector and a critically acclaimed version of The Who’s Tommy. The production features the creative use of audio description, signing, and captions. For more information visit rampsonthemoon.co.uk



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This performance was very long, over 3 hours, but it didn't drag at all. I really needed to know what happened next. The set was very minimal but that worked well. The cast (mostly d/deaf or disabled) were brilliant and although there were screens either side with descriptions and subtitles and the cast were constantly signing throughout it didn't detract from our appreciation of characters and their story telling.

One of our group left at the interval, she wasn't enjoying it at all, and we noticed a few people rudely leaving during the second half, but my two friends and I were pleased we stayed to the end. We said very enjoyable and thought provoking.
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