Never So Good Explained

Never So Good
Place:National Theatre, London
Orig Lang:English
Subject:Life and career of British politician Harold Macmillan
Web:http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/neversogood

Never So Good is a 2008 play by Howard Brenton, which portrays the life and career of Harold Macmillan, a 20th-century Conservative British politician who served as Prime Minister (1957–1963).[1] [2] It was first performed in the Lyttelton auditorium of the National Theatre, London, on 26 March 2008; previews began on 17 March 2008.[3]

The play is divided into four acts, covering Macmillan's early life and military experience in World War I; his involvement in British politics during the descent into World War II; the Suez Crisis, during which he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer; and his service as Prime Minister, during which the reputation of his government was severely damaged by the Profumo affair. Macmillan's younger self remains with him, providing mocking commentary.[4]

The National Theatre production was directed by Howard Davies.[5] The cast included Jeremy Irons as Harold Macmillan, Anthony Calf as Anthony Eden, Pip Carter as young Harold Macmillan, Anna Carteret as Nellie Macmillan, Anna Chancellor as Dorothy Macmillan and Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill, whom he would later play in several episodes of Doctor Who.[6] [7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A good look at politics. March 27, 2008. Evening Standard.
  2. Web site: History of Harold Macmillan - GOV.UK. www.gov.uk.
  3. Web site: National Theatre : Productions : Never So Good. https://web.archive.org/web/20080512144804/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/neversogood. dead. May 12, 2008. May 12, 2008.
  4. Web site: Never So Good - Drama Online. www.dramaonlinelibrary.com.
  5. Web site: First Night: Never So Good, National Theatre, London. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/first-night-never-so-good-national-theatre-london-801310.html . 18 June 2022 . subscription . live. March 27, 2008. The Independent.
  6. Web site: Hemming . Sarah . 2008-03-27 . Never So Good, Lyttelton, National Theatre, London . subscription . Financial Times.
  7. Web site: How one historical Doctor Who character ALMOST made it back for the new series. Radio Times.