Our Country's Good

Synopsis

Based on a heart-warming true story, the play follows a group of 18th Century convicts and officers as they confront a savage new land. These jailbirds, male and female, have no rights and their treatment is as ferocious as the landscape. But one man defies the rules. Lt Ralph Clark creates the very first piece of theatre ever to be performed in Australia, The Recruiting Officer. The drama mounts as the convicts rehearse, and their hopes for a new life grow stronger. Incredibly the play will go on! Our Country's Good was first presented at the Royal Court Theatre, London on 10 September 1988. Note: The convicts use explicit language and this award-winning play contains scenes which some people might find shocking.

Our Review:

5 September 2012

Our Country's Good is a co-production by Octagon Theatre Bolton and Out of Joint. It's presented by Karl Sydow in London and audiences in the north west are currently in for a treat, whilst it's playing in Bolton.

Captain Phillips (a thoughtful John Hollingworth), Governor of New South Wales, is horrified that one of the first actions in the new Australian colony is to build a gallows. In an effort to ingratiate himself with his liberal superior ambitious Lieutenant Clark (Dominic Thorburn) suggests that staging a play might raise the aspirations of the convicts. This is easier said than done as Clark faces opposition from the authorities, non-cooperation from his cast and an actor who is to be hanged.

Our Country’s Good is preceded by its reputation. Most audiences will know in advance that the theme is the redemptive power of theatre. Thankfully, the new production at the Bolton Octagon warmly demonstrates, rather than dryly describes, this...

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Latest User Review

Tim Munro - 19 November 2012:

Saw it in Leeds and thought it was wonderful - a superb battlecry for the power of the arts, very effectively produced with a magnificent cast, particularly Dominic Thorburn; Ian Redford who is amazing in several roles, and Ciaran Owens who plays the two most completely opposite roles imaginable and completely convinces in both, to the extent that it's quite difficult to comprehend that it's the same actor. Marvellous work from all concerned....

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