Normally in the world of writing for the stage the old adage about too many chefs is one that should be heeded. But the National Theatre, with its traditions of devising topical new works, doesn't just attract 'normal' writers. It has the opportunity to pick and choose from the best, which is what they've chosen to do for their new work,
Greenland, where they've employed four people to put the play together.
Those four names are
Moria Buffini, Matt Charman, Penelope Skinner and Jack Thorne (listed alphabetically in case you were wondering.). Buffini is an actor/ writer who's 2003 play
Dinner was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy, she's also done the odd screenplay for the BBC;
Matt Charman is one of the National's Writers in Residence;
Penelope Skinner who was nominated for best play in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards; and
Jack Thorne, who's first feature film:
The Scouting Book For Boys won him Best Newcomer award at the London Film Festival, but who's better known for writing for
Skins and
Shameless.
That team were given the very challenging task of answering questions about climate change:
What on earth is happening to our planet?
And who knows what and what can or should be done about it?
So maybe they did need the four of them. But the people involved doesn't stop there, the writing team went out and interviewed key figures from the scientific community, politicians, business leaders and philosophers, and it's their responses and input which this piece of theatre has been made with. So it should be interesting, informative and challenging. You should also expect it to be modern, fast paced and very timely. And revealing. There may not be a second season of this production, so you should be timely about your attendance as well.
