‘What sort of country do you want?’ – Margaret Thatcher
Tea, cucumber, a table and Margaret Thatcher. This is how people’s fate is decided.
The performance starts with Margaret Thatcher played by Jack Boal, sitting in the middle of a table, looking at a projection screened behind her. It talks about nuclear families and gendered roles; the tone is already set. The character looked at the audience, the performance started.
Thatcher – Rite written and performed by Jack Boal, directed by Lila Robirosa, revisits the political and personal legacy left by Margaret Thatcher. Verbatim and lip-syncing techniques, coupled with visuals of Margaret Thatcher herself, extracts of news and political shows, as well as written messages on the screen projection are vigorously explored by the technical and creative team to convey such an ambiance where one cannot but feel immersed and part of it. The audience becomes politically involved with the character. Names of people from the audience are projected on the screen. Thatcher has chosen her people; her cabinet is already formed. Once more, small talk around tea, cake and cucumber sandwiches. Is this a strategy of avoiding tough questions? A political correctness attempts? Or a simulation of how politics is discussed? The tone is set again. Various critiques of Margaret Thatcher are addressed. The public is invited to debate, talk and get involved without being pushy when one chooses not. Confrontations may occur.
I was overcome with conflicting emotions for about an hour as I considered the absurdity of political performativity. Amazingly, Jack Boal juggled between the several facets of Margaret Thatcher’s personality while adding his own touch on the work he did to portray this personality. The performance combined multimedia with the public’s involvement in an exceptionally clever way.
Reviewer: Marita Matar
Reviewed: 28th March 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★