The ‘Death of England’ series, co-created by playwright Roy Williams and Clint Dyer, returns to the stage at Soho Place in London this summer with a new chapter exploring British identity against the backdrop of Brexit, Covid-19, and the Black Lives Matter movement. The upcoming production features a talented cast including Thomas Coombes, Paapa Essiedu, Erin Doherty, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster, continuing to offer a unique perspective on societal issues.
The “Death of England” series returns to the stage, with three plays set to be performed at Soho Place, London, this summer. This theatrical series, co-created by playwright Roy Williams and Clint Dyer, the deputy artistic director of the National Theatre, delves into British identity amidst Brexit, Covid-19, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The project began as a microplay commissioned in collaboration with the Guardian and the Royal Court. Its first stage adaptation, featuring Rafe Spall as Michael Fletcher, premiered at the National Theatre, exploring themes of grief and white working-class fury.
Roy Williams described the initial play as a narrative about a grieving son grappling with feelings of inadequacy and misplaced blame, marking it as a rare exploration of white working-class guilt through the lens of black British authors. The subsequent play, “Death of England: Delroy,” starred Michael Balogun and examined the turbulent life of a bailiff amid the wider societal context.
The third installment, “Death of England: Face to Face,” brought Michael and Delroy together onscreen. The latest play, “Death of England: Closing Time,” focuses on Carly, Michael’s sister, and Denise, Delroy’s mother.
In the upcoming West End production, Thomas Coombes will portray Michael, Paapa Essiedu will play Delroy, and Erin Doherty and Sharon Duncan-Brewster will star as Carly and Denise, respectively. The series has been praised for its balanced perspective on British identity and societal issues.
