Nation - Olivier National Theatre
There’s nothing like a good Terry Pratchett novel, from the tales of
Discworld to his other works that remain favourites for fans around the
world. As a result, if anyone that is a fan of his novels is also a
regular visitor of London theatre, the current show that appears on the
stage of the Olivier National Theatre is a must see.
It takes the form of “Nation”, a tale set within a parallel nineteenth
century in which two cultures are thrust together and forced to work
alongside each other during a time of extraordinary circumstances.
“Nation” is Pratchett’s 2008 novel that exists beyond the Discworld
series and was released to positive reviews. Its story of desperation
and desertion in the South Pacific quickly proved to be a worthy story
to take to the stage and soon enough an adaptation was created by Mark
Ravenhill, before the play opened at the National in November 2009.
The year is 1860 and communities within the South Pacific are about to
be torn apart as a powerful Tsunami wreaks havoc through islands and
dwellings, destroying lives and changing others. Amongst the chaos we
meet Mau, a man whose village has been totally destroyed by the
horrendous storm, as well as Daphne, a girl who has become shipwrecked
on the island. She has been taken away from her home and left deserted
from it far away, and the pair soon learn that if they are to survive
then they are going to have to work together – something that would be a
lot easier if they could speak the same language.
But they have no choice but to persevere and together they construct a
new life on the island, where the pair discover new skills and different
ways of looking at the world. Daphne delivers a baby and learns how to
milk a pig, whilst Mau begins to ask questions about his beliefs and
interpretations of the world around him – questions he had never asked
before his life was changed forever.
Pratchett needs no introduction, having spent decades working as one of
Britain’s best loved authors. His best-selling novels encompass the 36
novels of the Discworld series, which at their height were being
released at a rate of two a year. Though he has been forced to slow down
in recent years, his back catalogue of novels are beloved book to
millions of people, with his work including the likes of “The Carpet
People” (1971), “The Dark Side of the Sun” (1976), “Strata” (1981), “The
Colour of Magic” (1983), “Hogfather” (1996), “The Last Continent” and
his most recent “Unseen Academicals” (2009).
But his work appears on the stage thanks to the adaptation of playwright
Mark Ravenhill, a National Theatre regular who has created “Citizenship”
and “Scenes from Family Life” for its stage.
“Nation” continues on the stage of the Olivier National Theatre where it
is booking until March 2010.