Last night Neva and I attended the opening night of The Land That Might Have Been, the brand new, spirited musical produced by Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival.
As you will know by now Norwich Theatre is at the forefront for brand new shows that are AMAZING! Anyone remember these little known productions – Six, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World and Cake, so I was excited to see this new production.
What Is The Land That Might Have Been?
The summer is hot and life is bright for fearless Vera, her brother Edward, and friends Bobbie and Roland. In Buxton 1914, the four are feeling playful, optimistic and are falling in love.
Vera Brittain: feisty, intelligent, feminist. She wants to go to Oxford University, but for now must attend the debutante dances of the day. Witty and headstrong, she is caught off guard when she meets her match in more ways than one and falls in love with romantic poet, Roland.
Her brother Edward is a player (not just of the piano!). He’s full of lust and longing for brooding Bobbie, but in 1914 a gay relationship would be illegal. Should they follow their hearts and risk everything?
Join us in the Land of Might-Have-Been as we follow young love through a fun, steamy summer… but with the storm clouds of war looming on the horizon.
With the songs of Ivor Novello including ‘We’ll Gather Lilacs,’ ‘Glamorous Night’ and ‘Buxton Ragtime Band’ plus additional compositions by Iain Farrington, who was recently commissioned as a composer for the King’s Coronation.
What Did We Think Of The Land That Might Have Been
The story starts with a much older Vera Brittain (Julie Teal) standing on her soapbox shouting about the wrongs of the world, and various people shouting at her, it finally ended with her book being thrown at her, you are then transported back to her younger years.
The first thing that struck me as we witnessed the debutante ball was the sheer power of all the performers voices, they were outstanding!
Here you are introduced to Vera’s brother Edward (George Arvidson), and his two friends Bobbie (Kit Esuruoso) and Roland(Alexander Knox), after Vera (Audrey Brisson) had spent the first few songs telling the world she was a strong independent woman who didn’t need a man, she then falls for Roland!
The relationship between Edward and Bobbie throughout the performance is endearing and you really got a sense of the struggles for gay couples in years gone by, the harsh reality of the love letters that are read by the army and the threat of court marshal felt so unjust, for two people in love.
The reality of war was not lost in the show, but many films and performances about impending war are dark and sombre, whereas The Land That Might Have Been approached it in a more pragmatic way, with all three men signing up and Vera taking leave from her studies at Oxford to volunteer as a nurse during the war.
The entire story was a stark reminder of how life used to be, and it did leave you feeling that in some ways we have definitely moved forward, but in other areas, there’s still a lot of work to be done!
The standing ovation at the end was a testament to a beautiful love story of four people that may have played a small part in changing the world!
If you are wondering what to do one evening this week, then I urge you to go and book tickets for The Land of Might Have Been.