The New Real – The Other Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon

David Edgar’s 10^th premiere at The Other Place follows on from The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1991), Written on the Heart (2011), and A Christmas Carol (2022), and continues his relationship with the RSC following on from his appointment in 1989 as an Honorary Artist.  The New Real, is a bringing together of Headlong, the RSC and David Edgar to produce a new political drama, staged in the RSC’s studio theatre, The Other Place.

Set in a former communist country in Eastern Europe, two American political strategists are working for competing candidates and predict that they will teach the East how to do elections, but the tables are turned…  Globally, we witness diplomacy a time when the Right competes with populist politics, as seen in Britain’s recent election with the Reform Party winning a seat in Government for the first time, France’s National Rally, and Donald Trump’s nationalist agenda.

Central to the play are American political strategists Larry Yeates (Lloyd Owen) and Rachel Moss (Martina Laird) who take on the role of adviser to the political candidates running for office.  Moss uses the services of Caro Wheeler (Jodie McNee) a British pollster, to assist in finding her candidate’s demographic to target their campaign to give the best chance of success.  Moss’ ex-partner Yeates, an unscrupulous strategist, sets himself against her by taking on an opposing candidate, and the unsavoury side to politics is exposed.

Directed by Headlong’s Artistic Director, Holly Race Roughan, the production is slick with its introduction to the history of modern politics displayed on large screens, videos of Thatcher, Nixon, John F. Kennedy, Churchill, to name but a few.  Set on a traverse stage, these screens were raised and lowered during scene changes, or to add something to the unfolding narrative of the play.  The stark reality of Eastern European politics, with a campaign meeting being conducted in the back room of a church, ideally demonstrated the undemocratic process that many opposition parties face in countries without an open democracy.

This is not a play that you will fall in love with, it shows the unpalatable nature of politics, and how many candidates with good intentions, can be drawn into the game of winning at any cost.  Owen and Laird portrayed their characters as controlling and manipulative, their own reputation coming first, before their candidate’s; and the voters being mere pawns in the process – a number in a poll.  McNee’s character, Caro the pollster, injected morality into the play, which was much needed, and even the well-intentioned candidates, were manipulated by the strategists’ political machine into putting winning first, above what is best for the people they represent.

I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters in this play, it lacked something, and I feel that that something is hope!  Maybe, having seen the dark side of politics represented in this play, this is how one should feel upon leaving the theatre.

David Edgar’s writing is excellent, but I would have liked to have heard more about the background of the strategists, their characters were cold, calculating and lacked warmth, but understanding where this came from would have made them more interesting.  The cleverly designed videos by Luke Halls are used to great affect working well with Alex Lowde’s set and costume design, and the slick production values work well together aesthetically, but added to the disconnect emotionally.

There is no doubt that this is an interesting play, the political manoeuvring that goes on behind the scenes of politics is a revelation, but it lacks humanity.  In writing this, however, I realise that…so does politics!

The play runs until the 2^nd November 2024, if you would like further information, or to book tickets, go to – https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-new-real/

Reviewer: Caroline Worswick

Reviewed: 10^th October 2024

North West End UK Rating: