National Theatre's MY COUNTRY Coming to HOME This Spring

The National Theatre has collaborated with eight UK arts organisations to create a new play inspired by the recent EU Referendum, presented on stage at HOME as part of a UK tour following its current run at the NT's Dorfman Theatre in London.

MY COUNTRY; A WORK IN PROGRESS, directed by Rufus Norris, will run Tues 18 - Sat 22 April 2017 (press night Tues 18 April).

In the days following the Brexit vote, a team of interviewers spoke to people around the country - from Leicester to Derry/Londonderry and Merthyr Tydfil to Glasgow, aged 9 to 87, to hear their views. In a series of interviews, they heard opinions that were honest, emotional, funny and sometimes extreme. These testimonials are interwoven with speeches from political leaders to create a new play by Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, and directed by National Theatre Artistic Director Rufus Norris.

Britannia (played by Penny Layden) calls a meeting to listen to her people: Caledonia (played by Stuart McQuarrie), Cymru (played by ChristIan Patterson), East Midlands (played by Seema Bowri), North East (played by Laura Elphinstone), Northern Ireland (played by Cavan Clarke), and South West (played by Adam Ewan).

Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, said: "One of my ambitions for the National Theatre is to make it truly national and through collaboration, embrace the creativity and opinion around the UK. The Brexit vote unleashed a host of questions about our country, way beyond the issue of Britain's role in Europe. It articulated a deep disaffection. Those elements provoked a need and opportunity to create a piece of theatre that responds to that palpable sense of frustration and disillusionment. Art has always responded to what is happening now and it's what I hope we achieve with My Country."

Walter Meierjohann, Artistic Director: Theatre, HOME, commented: "As someone who was born on the Continent and lived the majority of his life there, I was incredibly disappointed by the outcome of the referendum last June. I was delighted, however, how Rufus Norris and the National Theatre responded artistically - by actually creating a piece of theatre which listened to the voices of people from all around England. I am very proud to present My Country here at HOME - and I am sure that the play will initiate debate amongst audiences, something which is very much needed."

HOME's previous collaborations with the National Theatre includes the world premiere of A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, a Complicite Associates and National Theatre co-production in association with HOME, directed by Bryony Kimmings (September 2016). HOME have also been asked to curate a weekend of the National Theatre's free outdoor River Stage festival between 4-6 August; and following a critically acclaimed, sold-out season at the National Theatre and in London's West End, HOME will present Duncan Macmillan's People, Places & Things this September.

My Country: a work in progress is created in collaboration with; Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Curve, Leicester, Derry Playhouse, Live Theatre, National Theatre Wales, Sage Gateshead, Salisbury Playhouse and Strike A Light Festival in association with Cusack Projects Limited.

IF YOU GO:

My Country; a work in progress

Tue 18 Apr
Wed 19 Apr
Thu 20 Apr
Fri 21 Apr
Sat 22 Apr

At HOME, Manchester

Tickets: £24.00 - £10.00 (conc. available)
To book tickets, visit www.homemcr.org or call box office on +44 (0)161 200 1500.

HOME, Manchester's centre for international contemporary art, theatre, film and books, opened its doors in 2015. HOME is a place for curiosity seekers, for lovers of the dramatic, the digital and the deeply engaging; for radicals and reciprocators. HOME works with artists to produce new and extraordinary theatre experiences, programming an exciting, eclectic mix of drama and dance with a strong focus on international work, new commissions and talent development. Led by Artistic Director: Theatre, Walter Meierjohann, HOME has collaborated with many of the most celebrated artists on the UK and International scene, including Complicite, 1927, Simon Stephens, Hofesh Shechter, Peeping Tom, Philippe Quesne and 59productions and offers opportunities to theatre makers at all career stages to develop and extend their practice, presenting thought- provoking and experimental work. The patrons of HOME are Danny Boyle, former National Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner, actress SurAnne Jones, playwright and poet Jackie Kay MBE, artists Rosa Barba and Phil Collins, filmmaker Asif Kapadia, and actress and author Meera Syal CBE. www.homemcr.org | @HOME_mcr

The National Theatre is dedicated to making the very best theatre and sharing it with as many people as possible. We produce productions on the South Bank in London each year, ranging from re-imagined classics to modern masterpieces and new work by contemporary writers and theatre-makers. The National's work is seen on tour throughout the UK, in London's West End, internationally (including on Broadway) and in collaborations and co-productions with theatres across the country. Across 2015-2016, the NT staged 34 productions and gave 3,134 performances in the UK and internationally. The NT's award-winning programme had a UK audience of 2.5 million, 700,000 of which were NT Live audiences.The Clore Learning Centre at the NT is committed to providing programmes for schools, young people, families, community groups and adult learners, including the nationwide youth theatre festival Connections and playwriting competition New Views. In 2015-2016, we engaged with over 181,000 participants through the NT Learning events programme. Further, over 2,200 secondary schools have signed up to the free streaming service, On Demand. In Schools since its launch in September 2015. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk | @nationaltheatre

Pictured: My Country, Penny Layden (Britannia) and the company by Sarah Lee

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