Nye (NFT)

Nye (NFT)

Mum was treated at the Marsden; god bless the NHS

Dad was in Hospital, god bless the NHS

I get free eye tests at 48; god bless the NHS.

The problem is, I’m 48. The NHS was created in 1948, and my relationship with the NHS will always be thinking, ‘So mote it be’ The concept of a life without one does not exist for me; as such, it’s hard for me and many of my age and younger to even comprehend its creation or possible destruction. My parents, both immigrants and born before its inception, give me a better perspective than many, but even then…I can be counted on to complain about waiting to be seen and where the fuck is the ambulance at the point of need. I can call it stress, but really…it’s not. It’s perspective.

The best part of this play is perspective. Having never heard of Nye, and I did politics at A level, it’s a fantastic introduction to intercine politics of the pre- and post-war era. Enframed within his own life journey as he lies in bed thinking, possibly the best of himself, it charts a sense of character and motivation that has a childlike simplicity that manages to carry throughout the feature.

It feels in its constructions and execution like I’m watching a middle-aged version of Where the wild things are, with a pyjama-clad Arthur dent like character with the emotional range of a child encountering the evils of capitalism, authority, patriarchy and class struggle but responding with aplomb, panache and a vision for a better future. Primarily, this talks about politics, but it is not political. It’s polemical. It hits every note of my political beliefs and views from my formative years. The role of libraries and my education with language at a time when my ethnicity was used as a cudgel to avoid teaching me was always going to hit the right note. But in fairness, that’s the ring of truth for you from my life. I won’t pretend that my agreement makes it authentic. But it has no intention of being so. As such, it avoids the scrutiny of others.

Michael Sheen shows a great deal of coyness, strength, stammering confidence, and valour. For it’s braver to feel fear and face struggle than to be some utter alpha of one’s environs. The roles of women and their own frustrations are touched upon. But ultimately, he woos in the political bars as one would in a club, with charm and forbearance. 

The tone of the first half is the game show light entertainment sitcom one would expect from oh docBeechinghing and could be ended with a thick yellow font cast list. But the second half is a deconstruction of Churchill that has been long overdue. Nye’s motivation and connection to his father is classic theatre; the mines are his river Styx. So, at times, it may be overmined to sentimental value. But I would say 

It taught me

It filled me

I was nourished for three hours, sheltered and fed intellectually.

And thoroughly entertained.

I will be seeking out more national theatre, and so should you

God bless the NHS.