THE NEW REAL – RSC & HEADLONG @ THE OTHER PLACE
The New Real, David Edgar’s tenth play for the RSC, is an ambitious exploration of politics in the digital age. Premiering at The Other Place and directed by Holly Race Roughan, the production is a collaboration between the RSC and touring company Headlong.
Topically set against the backdrop of recent elections in the UK and the upcoming US presidential race, the play delves into rigged elections and fake news which shape political outcomes. It explores the dirty tricks employed by campaigners to manipulate voters who are often inconsistent and unpredictable over a number of different elections.
The New Real centres on two American pollsters, Larry Yeates (a suave Lloyd Owen) and Rachel Moss (Martina Laird), who bring their sharp Western campaign tactics to an unnamed Eastern European country. Though we’re told the country’s not a ‘stan,’ the shadow of former Soviet control looms large.
From the outset, it’s clear this is a sweeping, complex play with the action taking place over two decades and multiple political campaigns. The traverse stage is dominated by six giant video screens, part of Alex Lowde’s inventive set design, which skilfully anchors the audience in the historical and political landscape. As the audience settles the screens display news footage from key political events. From WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall, featuring iconic moments and figures like Churchill, the shooting of JFK, the counterculture of Woodstock, Thatcher, and Gorbachev through to Obama and Brexit —often focussing on the ongoing clash between the capitalist West and communism.
As the plot unfolds, we witness the ideological clash between Larry, a smooth seasoned campaign strategist, and Rachel, driven by passion and idealism. Their dynamic, tinged with a brief romantic history, fuels the narrative, while British pollster Caro Wheeler (Jodie McNee) brings sharp humour to the mix.
Rachel and Caro are hired to help the presidential aspirations of former campaign manager Luidmilla Bezkorodko with Margaret Thatcher’s memoir on her bookshelf. Icily played by Patrycja Kujawska. The political machinations become more entangled when Rachel inadvertently shares sensitive polling data with Larry, unaware he’s working for the opposing candidate. Eurovision serves as a clever metaphor for the entry of Eastern democracies onto the world stage, subtly highlighting the challenges they face in joining NATO or the EU.
The entire cast deftly handles a variety of American and Eastern European roles. Roderick Hill’s portrayal of presidential candidate Petr Lutsevic is particularly striking, as he transforms convincingly from a champion of the people to a manipulative demagogue, skilfully tapping into the fears and desires of his electorate.
At 2 hours and 45 minutes, The New Real is a dense but thoroughly entertaining play. While the first half may feel a touch heavy-handed in its political exposition, the dry wit and fast pace keep the audience engaged. The use of video screens and pre-recorded footage keeps it contemporary and fascinating. The play makes a bold statement about the intersection of democracy, ideologies, and media manipulation, leaving much to ponder. Given the play runs until just days before the U.S. presidential election, it won’t be long before we see how these themes play out in real-time, in the age of social media and fake news.
