EDGAR’S CITIZENSHIP PLAY PROVES TIMELY AS GOLDSMITH REPORTS
| Published: 13th March 2008 11:48 |
As Lord Goldsmith publishes his report into citizenship today (11 March), Testing the Echo, David Edgar’s new play about citizenship and Britishness, continues provide a focus for this hot topic. The writer and the play’s producers, Out of Joint have seen their show proved increasingly topical as it tours the country, running at the Tricycle Theatre from 1 April – 3 May.
On the day of the play’s first performance, at Salisbury Playhouse, the Citizens' Advice Bureau issued a report on the lack of NHS dentists. The play contains a line about the essence of Britishness being "the need and capacity to find a dentist".
As the Company arrived for a week of performances in Edinburgh, the Archbishop of Canterbury made his statement about Sharia Law. There is a scene in the play about Sharia Law, starting with the line "They don't mean cutting people's hands off".
While the show was in Liverpool, the Royal United Services Institute issued a report saying that the United Kingdom is "increasingly divided about interpretations of its history". One of the points the play makes is that the citizenship test has no questions on British history because no-one can agree what it is.
The day after Testing the Echo opened in Warwick, the Prime Minister made a speech about citizenship and the government announced proposals to toughen up the requirements for people to become British citizens. The play is about the requirements for people to become British citizens.
As the play reached Guildford, David Cameron made a speech attacking multiculturalism. One of the central characters of the play spends her time attacking multiculturalism.
Shortly afterwards, Margaret Hodge made a speech about diversity and the arts, in which she criticised the Proms. The play not only examines what British people supposedly “do” with their time; it also quotes a line from "Jerusalem" (one of the highlights of the last night of the proms) in its closing moments.
TESTING THE ECHO
Directed by Matthew Dunster. Testing the Echo runs at the Tricycle from 1 April – 3 May, with press night on 4 April. Designs are by Paul Wills with lighting by Philip Gladwell and sound by Ian Dickinson. The cast is Teresa Banham, Kirsty Bushell, Sushil Chudasama, Farzana Dua Elahe, Ian Dunn, Robert Gwilym, Syrus Lowe and Sirine Saba.
Secretly, Tetyana wants to escape her marriage. Mahmood gets kidnapped for his own good. And the motley crew in Emma’s English class are all looking for something, whether it’s a passport – or a fight. As the day of their citizenship ceremony approaches, Emma’s students begin to challenge some of her dearest-held beliefs.
Max Stafford-Clark’s Out of Joint Company has played on six continents and has premiered plays by writers including Mark Ravenhill, David Hare, Alistair Beaton, Caryl Churchill, Sebastian Barry and Timberlake Wertenbaker.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
ADDRESS: Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
BOX OFFICE: 020 7328 1000
In person: 10am – 9pm, Monday – Saturday, 2 – 9pm on Sundays
On-line: www.ticketweb.co.uk
Tickets: from £10 - £20 plus reductions, allocated seats available for additional £5
Website: www.tricycle.co.uk
Performances: Monday – Saturday at 8pm, Saturday matinees at 4pm
Press Nights at 7pm
Midweek matinee: 30 April at 2pm
CAFÉ-BAR
The Tricycle Café-Bar is open from 12.30pm – 3pm and 5.30pm – 9pm, Monday to Friday and 10am – 9pm on Saturday serving food. The Tricycle Bar is open from 12noon – 11pm Monday to Saturday and 2pm – 9pm on Sunday, serving drinks and snacks.
TRANSPORT
Tube: Kilburn (Jubilee Line)
Bus: 16, 31, 32, 98, 189, 206, 316, 328
Train: Brondesbury (London overground)
