A high definition digital presentation of Nation captured live from the stage of the National Theatre, London as part of the pilot season of NT Live, in which the National Theatre broadcasts performances of plays onto cinema and performing arts center screens worldwide.
Nation is the National Theatre's latest spectacular family production. Based on a novel by Terry Pratchett and adapted for the stage by Mark Ravenhill, it is a story of two teenagers from a different time and completely different worlds thrown together when disaster strikes. Directed by Melly Still, the cast is led by Emily Taaffe as Daphne and Gary Garr as Mau.
"Will enthral both adults and children alike." -Daily Telegraph
NATION
Set in 1860, in a parallel world not dissimilar to our own, Nation tells the story of two teenagers from two very different parts of the world who are thrown together by a tsunami. Mau is just returning to his South Pacific Island tribe after a rites of passage ritual, and Daphne is traveling from her aristocratic life in Victorian England to meet her father, governor of the south seas. When the tsunami destroys Mau's village and leaves Daphne shipwrecked thousands of miles from home, the two must overcome enormous obstacles in order to survive. Neither speaks the other's language, and as refugees gather, Daphne delivers a baby, milks a pig, brews beer and does battle with a mutineer. Mau fights cannibal Raiders, discovers the world is round and questions the reality of his tribe’s fiercely patriarchal gods. Together they come of age, overseen by a foul-mouthed parrot, as they discard old doctrine to forge a new Nation.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Performance length: 2 hours, 25 minutes with one intermission
Terry Pratchett
Award-winning author Terry Pratchett has written over 70 books and is best known for his series of Discworld fantasy novels. His novels have been translated into over more than 36 languages, and he is currently the second most-read author in the UK and the seventh most-read international author in the U.S.
The National Theatre has teamed up with the Guardian to launch a short film competition for 10-17 year olds based on extracts from Nation. The winners' work will be screened before NT Live audiences around the world on January 30.
Visit the Nation competition YouTube channel.
Discount Tickets: $20 Senior Citizen and Non-NYU Student tickets available in person at the box office.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive
NT Live is funded in partnership with Arts Council England and NESTA and supported internationally by Travelex. NT Live events are distributed outside the U.K. through New York-based BY Experience, Inc.
Download a PDF e-program for Nation for more information about the production.
Pictured right: Gary Garr as Mau and Emily Taaffe as Daphne. Photo by Johan Persson.
