Death of England: Closing Time by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams - ★★★★☆
In February 2020, Death of England made its debut at the National Theatre, marking the beginning of a three-part narrative, following the story of two interconnected families. These families reflect the divided state of the country, a reflection that remains relevant today.
As Leyton Orient face Manchester United in a high-stakes game, the boys, Delory and Micheal are at the match leaving Denise and Carly to pack up what is left of the Fletcher & Tomlin shop. Both women are filled with unspoken frustrations, heartbreak, and a range of emotions that they struggle to articulate, until circumstances force them to confront their feelings. Carly is Denise's “daughter-in-sin” so not only are they connected on the basis of their business partnership, but also through Delroy and Carly’s union.
The Dorfman Theatre welcomes us with the St. Georges Cross adorning the stage, and the surrounding four squares serving both as seats for the audience and a part of the set from which we observe the perspective of Denise Tomlin and Carly Fletcher.
Both Carly and Denise hail from East London, but Carly a white woman with white parents, describes her father as “a man of his generation”. As she journeys through the story she grasps the similarities in both her and Denise's lives, but ultimately realises that she cannot fully comprehend Denise's experience. It takes a devastating and careless situation from Carly for both Denise and Carly to unpack and unravel the hurt and pain they had been carrying; for them to see and hear each other in the moment.
The perfectly cast Hayley Squires who plays Carly brings humour, adaptability and passion to her role. Sharon Duncan-Brewster who recently assumed the role of Denise is equally as fantastic and hilarious. The pair seamlessly navigate dialogues, monologues, maintain audience engagement and brilliantly transition between flashbacks and multiple characters. Clint Dyer's direction is also notable, guiding the cast to maintain the play's pace both before and after the emotional revelations.
The second half of the play offers deep insights that satisfy the audience questions and tie the story together. References to pop culture and England as we see and know it add a refreshing layer. Clint Dyer and Roy Williams have crafted a story that speaks to the nation in their three-part tale through the relevance of their exploration and how it highlights the state of the nation and the world around us.
Death of England: Closing Time serves as a fitting conclusion to the Fletcher and Tomlin family saga; offering a balanced perspective of ordinary characters who are incredibly relatable. The play closes with Denise and Carly, hand in hand unsure of what the future holds, but with courage and unity, they are willing to face it together.
Death of England: Closing Time is showing at the National Theatre till November 11th. The rest of the series can be found online at NT at Home.
