There were understandable logistical reasons why the National Theatre never got it together to restage all three of Roy Williams and Clint Dyer’s ‘Death of England’ plays: the theatre has already given over a lot of time to them (including making a fourth film installment), and the fact that the two monologues (‘Michael’ and ‘Delroy’) and the duologue (‘Closing Time’) don’t have any shared cast members limits the opportunity for splashy spectacle.
Nonetheless, they tell a linked story about race relations amongst the working class in austerity Britain, and it’s welcome to have this restaging – not under the auspices of the NT – that will see all three performed in rep.
There’s a damn fine, largely new cast as well: Thomas Coombes will step into Ralph Spall’s shoes to play the white Michael; big name Paapa Essiudu will take over the role of Michael’s troubled Black best friend Delroy; and Erin Doherty and Sharon Brewster-Duncan (the only returning NT cast member) will star as Delroy’s girlfriend Carly and mum Denise in ‘Closing Time’.
See @sohoplace website for schedule; ‘Michael’ runs Jul 15-Sep 28; ‘Delroy’ runs Jul 3-Sep 28; ‘Closing Time’ runs Aug 22-Sep 28.
