All Of Us | National Theatre | August 2022

(Photo Credit: Helen Murray)

5 Stars

All Of Us is a new play written by stand up comedian and disability rights activist, Francesca Martinez. This play is inspired by the stories of disabled people around the UK and tells a hugely important story of ‘making a stand’. All Of Us ran at the National Theatre’s Dorfman space in August and September of 2022 and is now streaming on NT at Home.

This hard-hitting new play tells the story of ‘Jess’ played by the play’s author, Francesca Martinez who is living with Cerebal Palsy in a land of austerity where disabled people are constantly mistreated by the government (sound familiar!)

In my honest opinion, this is the best play of the 21st Century. The way the script has been crafted by Martinez is incredible and is truly devastating throughout. The cruelty of the government within this piece is nearly unbelievable, and yet this is the world we are currently living in.

The production itself is absolutely incredible with the set design by Georgia Lowe being a highlight. The audience are sat around the stage which leaves no space for the actors to hide, the details of the acting being highlighted thanks to this and a clever use of a revolve allowing the audience to have an equal opportunity to watch the actors in the more focused scenes. The direction by Ian Rickson is remarkable with a particular highlight being the start of the second act set within a constituency meeting where the audience become almost active participants in the plot.

The whole cast of the show are phenomenal and it is incredibly hard to single out anyone, but a particular highlight of the show was the performances by Francesca Mills and Crystal Condie who were both incredible as Jess’ friends Poppy and Lottie. This is an incredibly intense show for the actors and the audience, I don’t think a show has ever hit me as hard as this one did.