Showing @ Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh Sat 19 Mar

The idea that humanity is growing increasingly isolated, reified and asocial is not really a fresh talking point. But since George Osborne announced the government’s spending review in October 2010, the UK has been scythed open. From the NHS to NTS, a politically frustrated and ultimately disenfranchised society needs to fight against the crisis we face. Bedlam Theatre, along with dozens of other groups, is hooking up with Meeting Point Productions and Reclaim Theatre to play its part in Theatre Uncut, a three-day nationwide installment of political drama, discussion and analysis designed to inflame and inform our society about ‘the cuts’.

The day will include seven specially commissioned plays from Anders Lustgarten, Clara Brennan, Mark Ravenhill, Dennis Kelly, Jack Thorne, Laura Lomas and ex-Bedlamer Lucy Kirkwood. The project will also feature cuts-orientated comedy and music to break up the theatre performances throughout the day. Building towards a debate held in the auditorium at 7:45pm, producer Alex Cory explains how the aim will be to “discuss the power of protests and artistic movements [and] whether it will have any success in the political world”. Tasha Frost, who is directing Jack Thorne’s Whiff Whaff, iterates how “to come at it from a different angle means you involve more people”, backed up by Cory who explains that “doubling up pleasure (theatre) and cause (politics) will increase the audience”. This debate seems also to juxtapose the political demagoguery drooling from the lips of our leaders, as Cory outlines that the point is “to provoke thought and debate rather than tell people what to think”.

Having as many people involved as possible and being inclusive is a really important part of the whole event

For the activists among us, this project could feel a lot like the organic result of various cultural commentaries and protests over the last couple of years. From eye-opening doc-films Inside Job, Capitalism: A Love Story and Zeitgeist Moving Forward to chart-hijacking tunes “Liar Liar” and “4’33” there have been significant anti-establishment productions marginalised by populist medias, while just last night Sole’s lastest rampage against capitalism ‘Donald Trump Shit‘ began to go viral. Coupled with these are groups who tirelessly fight to save a society which has fallen victim to the monopoly of markets, banks and corporations. Groups such as UK Uncut, False Economy and masses of localised anti-cuts organisations are rarely centred as driving forces in the battle against restriction, but actually house a necessary logic in opposing a fiscal massacre.

For the more artistic among us, the setup offers a day of, what Frost calls “good theatre”. Since the plays are all written by established writers, there’s the prospect of simply being involved in an exciting theatrical event. Frost emphasises that “having as many people involved as possible and being inclusive is a really important part of the whole event”. And this kind of objective unification is something which seems to humanise the project. It’s not just a discussion on venue closure or artistic budget cuts but on the tearing apart of social welfare, reflected in the fact that “the plays aren’t written about theatrical cuts, they’re about all cuts”. With all profits going towards Child Poverty Action Group the event can also help to raise money and awareness of groups such as this, increasing the scope of what this type of action can achieve. Theatre Uncut is another piece of the jigsaw, spearheading the efforts of political art which, along with social organisations, constantly stresses the need for challenge, transformation and discussion.

Play Listings:

Open Heart Surgery @ 12:30pm

Whiff Whaff @ 1:45pm

Housekeeping @ 2:30pm

Things That Make No Sense @ 3:45pm

A Bigger Banner @ 4:30pm

Hi Vis @ 5:45pm

The Fat Man @ 7:00pm