Event

Nation

Nation

Based on a novel by Terry Pratchett
Adapted to the stage by Mark Ravenhill

Oh, I think you think I want to eat you but, no no no, I am offering you afternoon tea, over there, in one hour.

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 tribes fiercely patriarchal gods. Together they come of age, overseen by a foul-mouthed parrot, as they discard old doctrine to forge a new Nation. Following His Dark Materials, Coram Boy and War Horse, the National stages Mark Ravenhills exhilarating adaptation of Terry Pratchett's latest witty and challenging adventure story.

There're no demons, no gods. Just me. And the waves and the sun and birth and death.
And theres no reason for anything. Im sorry: thats just the way it seems to me.

NT Live performances of National Theatre plays broadcast live to cinema screens around the world including the Historic Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, WA.

Nation will be performed live in London on Saturday, January 30, 2010, filmed
in high definition and presented exclusively at participating movie theatres across the US.

NT Live is supported internationally by TRAVELEX www.travelex.com/