George Arvidson as Edward and Audrey Brisson as Vera – photo supplied by Norwich Theatre

 

 

My first visit to the Theatre Royal for some time was to attend this evening the Norwich premiere of a show that will be seen as very important to the future identity of Norwich Theatre. The Land of Might-Have-Been is a new large scale piece of musical theatre born from a cooperation between Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival. A packed audience enjoyed a well crafted bit of theatre that featured romance, youthful ambition and searing tragedy set into a score featuring many tunes from the pen of Ivor Novello.

The musical closely follows the life story of Vera Brittain, whose account of her early life ‘Testament of Youth’ became a defining account of the experience of becoming an adult just at the start of the First World War. Vera later became a peace activist, campaigning against the bombing of Germany in World War Two, which earned her much criticism. In the musical she loses her brother Edward, her fiancée Roland and their close friend Bobbie, who is also Edward’s lover. All are killed in military service in their early twenties.

Vera is played with passion and verve by Audrey Brisson who also gives distinctive character to her songs. We see her first with the enthusiasms of a teenager unwilling to conform to her parents stifling middle class mores but then swept away by love just as war tears her apart from poetic Roland (Alexander Knox). Vera’s younger brother Edward (played with an impressive physical style by George Arvidson) is a keen musician, full of life and vitality. We see him developing a close loving relationship with their friend Bobbie Jones (Kit Esuruoso) which in the harsh legal and social climate of the time was kept from his sister Vera. These four characters are the heart of this work and we become closely engaged with their characters, hopes and frustrations.

Blending Brittain’s book with contemporary (but unconnected) Novello’s music is what makes this work stand out. Writer Michael Williams was asked directly by Brittain’s daughter Shirley Williams to create a work about her late mother but came later to the Novello notion. It works, and also helps to give the producers a double hook to hang their marketing on. There is more dialogue than in many musicals but the songs carry the emotion of the work. Novello was gay, with the same partner from age 23 until he died. His many romantic songs have a pragmatic ambivalence which makes them a good fit for this tale. The direction, set design, musical performance and cast are all top notch creating a moving and enjoyable show. It shows how war affects most the youngest of adults, smashing their lives at the time when they should be blossoming and spreading their wings. It reminds us that homosexuality was dangerously illegal and faced with huge intolerance even into some of our lifetimes.

As it stands the show is perhaps a little too long, and I do struggle with the name even though it is a direct lift from a Novello song. Several times when asked about it I referred to the ‘Vera Brittain show’ as I just forgot the proper name, but that could be down to my age and general decline. I was a little worried about the sensitivity of putting this show on just as thousands more young men face violent and pointless deaths in a war driven by a gutless cold blooded tyrant, but then perhaps that makes it all the more important and timely for us to consider its messages. Do go and see this show, it is beautifully produced and executed. Good audiences for this work will hopefully encourage Norwich Theatre to undertake further creation of shows in house which can only benefit the performing arts scene in the city. Those involved have created a landmark production which should become part of many theatre’s repertoires for years ahead.

Listing: The Land of Might-Have-Been is at Norwich Theatre Royal from 25-30 July 2023. Booking and further info from norwichtheatre.org or cal 01603 630 000

© Julian Swainson, Norwich Eye, 25 July 2023