DramaFringe TheatreReviews

Review: Her Country, Hope Theatre

Write Club Festival 2025

Summary

Rating

Excellent

A sombre subject is thoughtfully addressed through engaging characters and visual interest.

In a surprising opener, the audience is warmly welcomed to the show by Harriet (Laura Jennifer Banks) who sets the scene by reminding us that 2015-2016 was a time of upheaval for the country.  The ‘Her’ of Her Country is Jo Cox, the MP who was tragically murdered in 2016, during the time of political and societal uncertainty in the lead up to the referendum that led into Brexit.  Writer and director, Craig Henry, explores these events through the eyes of four engaging characters who are caught up in the immediate impact, whilst also considering whether much has changed in the eight years since.

The occupations for the four leads are a natural choice to explore these events. Civil service press officer Hugh (Maximilian Graham) is nervously preparing for a briefing on the referendum. Journalists with very different attitudes to work and life, the ambitious Daisy (Tumi Olufawo) and unruly Liam (Joseph Samimi) are comparing their scoops. Harriet would seem to be the outlier from the world of politics, but those familiar with these events will recognise the significance of her job as a librarian in Yorkshire. When the murder is first reported, they all begin to converge in a clash of personalities and beliefs as they debate the impact, for the country and themselves, and how Jo’s legacy should be reported and remembered. The cast are brilliant in conveying both the outer personalities and hidden depths of feeling that emerge.

We switch between leads very rapidly, so Henry and assistant director Jessie Millson have made a practical choice to have a simple set of two folding chairs.  The four constantly replace the chairs to their liking, as if mildly annoyed to find that someone else has been rearranging their office. Scene switches are accompanied with creative lighting, which bathes the stage in different colours coded to the leads and providing a spotlight for the closing monologue.  Craig’s script has the feel of a variety show, bringing the four to life in very different ways.  Harriet is the only one to constantly break the fourth wall as our narrator; Banks is immediately charming, speaking candidly and directly to individual members of the audience as events unfold. We have a lot of comic relief from Liam’s goofy antics, such as recreating the ‘Boris stuck on a zipwire’ photo, contrasting with Daisy’s frustrations; Olufawo and Samimi are a fantastic double act. Although Hugh appears the most straightlaced, Graham brings a great sense of humanity and is the only one supported with musical cues at his key moments.

The costuming is well chosen to convey personality before anyone speaks a word of dialogue.  The approachable and no-nonsense Harriet has simple casual trousers, blouse and trainers; she also wears stereotypical librarian glasses. Sombre and professional Hugh has well-coordinated charcoal trousers and jumper, white shirt and a grey tie to match. Ambitious Daisy has a matching brown blouse and trousers. Irreverent Liam is initially dishevelled, with untucked shirt, unbuttoned cuffs and lose tie. The impact of the events on their mindset is also well conveyed in their appearance; now that there is a serious story to pursue, Liam smartens up his clothing and (literally) dusts off a blazer, whilst Hugh’s untucked shirt reveals the stress he is under.

Through relatable and engaging viewpoints and debates, this remains a relevant subject to explore. Interestingly, the script was originally developed as a two hour play before reducing to almost half the runtime; this has been seamlessly achieved with nothing feeling shortchanged.  Hopefully it has the chance to be produced in full and expand the debate.


Written & Directed by: Craig Henry

Assistant director: Jessie Millson


Her Country plays at Hope Theatre until 30th January. Further information and booking are available here. You can also listen to the ET Podcast with writer and director Craig Henry here.

Michael Taylor

Michael is a lifelong Londoner who enjoys using his free time to explore all the fantastic and madcap sights that London has to offer. This often involves the arts and is occasionally something he stumbles across by complete accident. Having experienced many enjoyable adventures in theatre, he continues to be entertained and educated by the wide variety of shows on offer.

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