Our Country's Good Performance

Here is the video of our studio production of two scenes from Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker:

Obviously we are not in costume nor do we have the set and props that we would have if it were a full scale performance. So if this were a full scale production we would have a large banquet table at the centre of the stage to show the importance of the men's life of luxury, with an abundance of food and drink upon it. The use of placards would also be employed to label the scene and inform the audience of exactly what was happening, it would say: 'The authorities discuss the merits of the play'. It may also be interesting to have the information on the placard, projected on to the back of the scene, making it even more obvious and have even more of a distancing effect on the audience. The scene would be outdoors, under a large British flag, showing the political patriotism of the authorities and who they represent. In terms of costume, the authorities would wear not a full realistic costume but would have elements of it, for instance badges and medals on their soldiers to show their rank and power.  We would also give chains to the characters who were the most bitter, drunk and ignorant to show their power over the lives of the convicts and their inability to see them as humans. This also provides a similar effect to Mother Courage's money bag that creates a sound wherever she moves, as the chains make a harsh sound when the actor moves, drawing attention to the symbol. 

Although many elements would have changed if it was a full scale production, we still would have performed under white lights and shown the mechanics of the transition between scenes as these are things Brecht did to draw the audience's attention to the theatrical nature of the play.