OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD to Have London Amateur Premiere

Thirty years after its professional premiere at the Royal Court in London, the Bridewell Theatre hosts the amateur London premiere of Our Country's Good from 23-27 October, staged by Sedos, the City of London's leading amateur theatre company.

Our Country's Good is a modern classic, exploring themes of crime, punishment and the unifying and civilising power of theatre. Set in 1787, it tells the true story of a group of convicts transported to Australia who, faced with the appalling realities of life in a penal colony, come together to rehearse and perform a play.

Timberlake Wertenbaker's script has been written with the idea of doubling in mind, needing only ten actors for over twenty roles, and this is a big part of why director Chloë Robertson has been chasing the amateur rights for the play so doggedly.

"The opportunity that Our Country's Good gives not only the cast, but also the director and wider production team, really makes this a play to get your teeth into," she says. "Doubling characters challenges us all to let go of how we may normally approach a play and to consider characterisation, scene changes, direction and how everything fits together in a different light."

"But that's not the only reason I love this play and have been wanting to direct it for Sedos for such a long time. The humanising, therapeutic and life-changing power of theatre is something I believe in wholeheartedly and Our Country's Good encapsulates that so perfectly with its play within a play."

"Although set in the 18th century I think that audiences recognise the lessons that the characters learn and the relationships they build with the theatre and their fellow 'thespists' are very relatable today."