The acclaimed co-production by Out of Joint and the Octagon Theatre Bolton

Our Country’s Good

by Timberlake Wertenbaker 2012-14

a man wearing 17th century captains clothes looking powerful with a woman wearing a worn out dress with hands in chains staring after him. In the background there is a man and woman kissing under the moonlight and a group of angry poorly dressed looking people looking into the distance.

“We are talking about criminals, often hardened criminals. They have a habit of vice and crime. Many criminals seem to have been born that way. It is in their nature.”

Inspired by real events, Our Country’s Good is the true story of a ragbag cast of convicts who put on a play under the guidance of an earnest young marine officer. As the barriers between captors and captives break down, they start to discover each other, both onstage and behind the scenes.

25 years ago, Our Country’s Good premiered at the Royal Court Theatre before transferring to the West End and Broadway, winning major awards on both sides of the Atlantic. This revival production was a co-production by Out of Joint and Octagon Theatre Bolton.

REVIEWS

“Marvellous revival… Hilarious… Desperately moving”
-Mail on Sunday

“An exceptional piece of writing… a deliciously detailed world”
-Time Out

“All the ingredients of a stirring heart-thumper”
-Metro

“Staged with overwhelming warmth and humanity”
-Sunday Express

“Glowingly persuasive… Warmly recommended”
-Independent

“A consummate revival of a modern classic”
-Guardian

“Mesmerisingly atmospheric”
-Daily Telegraph

“Outstanding… Uplifting… A theatrical landmark”
-Daily Mail

“This warm, rich play has lost none of its punch”
-Financial Times

“A treat… Deeply moving”
-Whatsonstage.com

TRAILER

CAST & CREATIVES

Cast: Dominic Thorburn, Laura Dos Santos, Ian Redford, Helen Bradbury, Lisa Kerras, Damola Adelaja, John Hollingworth, Matthew Needham, Kathryn O’Reilly and Ciarán Owen.

Director: Max Stafford-Clark
Designer: Tim Shortall
Lighting: Johanna Town
Sound: Andy Smith

PERFORMANCES

Our Country’s Good toured Sept – Nov 2012, followed by a London run at St James Theatre Jan – March 2013.

Tour venues: Bolton Octagon Theatre, Birmingham Old Rep, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, Nuffield Theatre Southampton, Oxford Playhouse,
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Watford Palace Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse.