The City and The Town

When Ben returns home to his father’s funeral after 13 years away, he is confronted with uncomfortable truths about the past, present and future of the community and the family he grew up in and left behind.

“Tricky thing memories – not always the way you remember then.”

Anders Lustgarten’s new play is a funny, eclectic, and uniquely political piece of theatre that brings a fresh perspective to some of the political divides and problems facing our country today.

Anders’ previous work includes Lampedusa (Hightide/Soho Theatre), The Seven Acts of Mercy (RSC) and The Secret Theatre (Globe). Directed by Dritero Kasapi (Artistic Director of Sweden’s National Touring Theatre, Riksteatern) whose previous UK work includes the acclaimed Nina – a story about me and Nina Simone (Traverse, Young Vic and UK tour).

“You might think that more than a decade of Tory government would have produced a left-wing backlash amongst working-class people. But it hasn’t. In small towns up and down the country, the right is on the rise. Why? Political theatre may not be in vogue, but that hasn’t stopped Anders Lustgarten from really considering how we live now in plays including Lampedusa and The Seven Acts of Mercy for the RSC. His latest concerns a successful lawyer who returns to his small home town for his dad’s funeral after 13 years away, and discovers the brother who stayed behind has been radicalised by the right. Sounds meaty and apt.”
Lyn Gardner, Stagedoor