“Spectacular” - An act of terror that was of no military effect, but provided a large media spectacle.
THE SPECTACULAR follows Jake and Naomi, two Republican “activists” from Dublin as they interrogate Britain's colonial legacy in Ireland, whilst being guided by the mysterious voice of their Commanding Officer. Using the audience as a kind of absurd focus group, they test out spectaculars, confronting the spectators with questions around what nationalism means in a contemporary society: Is its natural endpoint always a violent conservatism that initially masquerades as a faux-liberation ideology? Can political violence ever be effective? The audience witnesses tensions rise between Jake and Naomi as they explore these ideas, but how does that affect their chances of getting out of the theatre when things become increasingly extreme and absurd?
THE SPECTACULAR interrogates the lack of compulsory education around British colonialism in the UK curriculum. It also highlights the uncomfortable parallels between both British people and Irish southerners' lack of understanding around England's long involvement in Ireland.
Supported by Arts Council England and Camden People's Theatre.
“It means so much to be working at CPT, it’s such a good opportunity to work in a professional environment at my age. I didn’t think that was ever going to happen and it means the world to me. It’s really going to help prepare me for my future and where I want to go”
CYT participant and Camden student
