Nation

Based on a novel by Terry Pratchett, adapted by Mark Ravenhill.

The production is directed by Melly Still, who also designs the set with Mark Friend; with costumes by Dinah Collin, lighting by Paul Anderson, projections by Jon Driscoll, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Paul Arditti. The cast includes Gary Carr and Emily Taaffe.

Mark Ravenhill’s adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s latest witty and challenging adventure story (suitable for ages 10 and above) follows the National’s staging of His Dark Materials, Coram Boy and War Horse.

A parallel world, 1860. Two teenagers thrown together by a tsunami that has destroyed Mau’s village and left Daphne shipwrecked on his South Pacific island, thousands of miles from home. One wears next to nothing, the other a long white dress; neither speaks the other’s language; somehow they must learn to survive.

As starving 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.