England People Very Nice

This event has now finished Until Sun Aug 9 National Theatre, Olivier, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX Full details & map

Theatre: West End

© Johan Persson © Johan Persson

Time Out says

Frogs, micks, yids, pakis and Somalis (don't they deserve their personal pejorative nickname?) have all settled in Bethnal Green over the centuries and eventually mixed with the existing population. Richard Bean's boisterous account - akin to the 'Horrible Histories' series- is even-handed in its abuse as a group of asylum seekers put on a play which describes successive waves of immigration to the East End of London. Bean has saddled himself with a vast amount of history to portray and consequently most of the characters are stereotypes in what is really more of a revue. There's little he tells us that most people won't have heard before. But the joy of the show lies in its outrage and energy, and Bean's great skill in planting a joke. He is helped by Pete Bishop's Pythonesque animations and by Nicholas Hytner's rumbustious production. Hanging over the stage is Gordon Brown's disastrous pronouncement of 'British jobs for British people'. Big, brash and bold, Bean's play won't appeal to sensitive souls.

National Theatre, Olivier details

National Theatre, Olivier, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX

Transport Waterloo ,rail

Telephone

020 7452 3000

National Theatre, Olivier website

National Theatre, Olivier map

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