Land of the Free
Closing: November 09, 2024Land of the Free - West End History , Info & More
Southwark Playhouse Borough
77-85 Newington Causeway London
“The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one” Abraham Lincoln
1865. The United States are disunited by politics, power and race. To celebrate the end of Civil War, a victorious Abraham Lincoln goes to the theatre. Not long into the show a man walks in and shoots him. Who was he? Why did he do it? And why does it matter now?
In the lead up to a tumultuous American election this November, the award winning Simple8 examine the present by visiting the past, with a searing new play about John Wilkes Booth, the actor who assassinated a President.
Land of the Free - - West End Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Land of the Free
Land of the Free review
5 / 10
John Wilkes Booth, the roguish actor who shot dead US President Abraham Lincoln at a theatre in 1865, is the subject of Simple8’s latest play. Thorough research from writers Sebastian Armesto and Dudley Hinton colours in the life of the Confederate sympathiser, whose persona is often reduced to the firing of his gun. But this two-hour production, directed by Armesto, is sometimes guilty of oversaturating the story, embellishing Booth’s life with more details than are necessary. And though there is a playfulness and resourcefulness to the company’s storytelling, its chronology makes it hard to follow.
Review: LAND OF THE FREE, Southwark Playhouse
6 / 10
Outside of Lincoln’s more reflective and confrontational scenes, Land of the Free becomes somewhat frustrating. If the intention is to draw parallels between history and the present, it often feels too heavy-handed, with moments that border on a lecture as the ensemble directly explains events to the audience. If the goal is to explore the psyche of those who fuel political unrest, it falls short, as the characters remain underdeveloped and one-dimensional. It feels like the show is trying to do too much at once. While there are some exceptionally clever devices throughout – Julius Caesar comparisons, the use of placards to contextualise – by the second act, they start to feel overused and lose their impact.
Category
by Chloe Rabinowitz - October 16, 2024
See what the critics are saying about Land of the Free at Southwark Playhouse. Playing in the lead up to the most contentious American presidential election since the time of the Civil War, Land of The Free, tells the full story for the first time in British theatre of the life of the actor John Wilkes Booth. Read all of the reviews.
by Josh Maughan - October 16, 2024
Land of the Free might be considered a success. Yes, its structure stumbles and feels a bit misguided at times, but it got a room full of people discussing some truly important issues. In a world facing such uncertainty, that’s exactly the kind of conversation theatre should be encouraging!
by Stephi Wild - September 9, 2024
A new play exploring the assassination of Abraham Lincoln announced its cast ahead of its opening next month. The production promises a deep dive into the historical event with a fresh perspective.
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