THE NATIONAL THEATRE:

June 29^th

     The vision of the National Theatre is to make an impact in the theatre world and to really give an opportunity to theatre artists to become better at their craft. The National Theatre is known all over the world with a lot of its more popular and famous productions being streamed in theatres in the states. The show that we saw there was A Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, written by Caryl Churchill.

     It was an interesting play. The script itself was hard to understand and follow but I think a lot of that had to do with it being about British history and I don’t know anything about their history. So a lot of jokes and famous names went right over my head, but there were still good moments that I enjoyed and was intrigued by. I was more fascinated and awed by the technical side. The set and lights and just overall beauty of the show are what kept me intrigued and paying attention. Masses of people would enter and move things around and then set for a short scene and then keep moving for another one. It was all choreographed and everything had double meanings. The set was the king’s table where him and all his men ate but the actual show was about the common people starting this revolution to take over the monarchy and they played these scenes on the dinner table during dinner time. So the higher class were eating this fancy meal or working on paperwork while the common folk were playing these beautiful scenes right in their faces. Such a push for idea of the poor man working hard everyday for a scrap of food while the high and mighty just lay around and eat all day.

     It was surreal to actually see a show at the National. But yet while sitting in the theatre I wasn’t aware I was in this well-known place but rather just another night to enjoy theatre. And I think that is what the founders wanted, just another place for people to see good theatre and to walk away a different person. I know I walked away different, it may not have been from the play itself but rather from the beauty and grace of the show.