England People Very Nice has been described by critics as 'a very funny but outrageous comedy... makes you laugh then wonder whether you should have.' (Financial Times). Our intrepid Entry Pass reviewers Constance Greenfield, Sagar Gupta and Fabienne Cheung were there on press night and here give their opinions below on the show that everyone is talking about...

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England People Very Nice shows the generational waves of immigrants living in the ‘paradise’ of Bethnal Green across 400 years. Although some of the characters refer to this as a somewhat ‘sobering thought’ and there is certainly no laughs spared at the expense of the location, the play communicates a celebration of the diversity experienced in London despite the stereotypic divides between communities.

The play itself is told by immigrants staging a play about the history of the area; this permits extraordinarily exaggerated acting and jokes that appear simply to keep the audience amused but also highlight the importance of tone in speech and how even the smallest infliction can make a difference as to how we are perceived. Boldly directed by Nicholas Hytner the play had the whole of the Olivier auditorium kept amused throughout the evening and the strikingly beautiful animations Hytner employed which were projected onto the stage similar in style to the recent surge of films told through cartoon imagery like Persepolis added a modern flair to the production and showed how good contemporary theatre that embraces new media can be. 

There were excellent performances from Olivia Colman as the harassed director and Sophie Stanton as the ever weary barmaid who complains in that perfect actor way about the lines that will bring down her entire performance. Although it can seem overly repetitive, when the audience have understood the point, England People Very Nice is engagingly performed and a highly enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Constance Greenfield

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With the issue of immigration at the very forefront of modern politics, Richard bean’s latest production couldn’t have arrived at a better time. It is a shame that the performance serves to accentuate negative stereotypes rather than dispelling myths. Rather than ensuring that Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ never comes to forbearance it fans the flames of racial discontent at times of economic hardship.

England People Very Nice is a light hearted breeze through the successive waves of immigration in Bethnal Green. Beginning in the 16th century with Protestant Huguenots fleeing France the play transcends to the influx of Bangladeshis during the last 50 years. The ongoing notion of disdain for new immigrants sees the Irish at loggerheads with Jewish anarchists who in turn feel displaced by Muslims.

The central theme of hostility towards immigrants giving way to mutual respect and harmony is through the conveyance of love. The continuing romantic travails of the energetic leads, Sacha Dhawan and Michelle Terry, begin to feel slightly repetitive and even unfeasible.

While the piece emphasizes correctly that prejudice is in fact the first response to difference. The disturbing message that emerges is that militant Muslims refuse to dip in the British melting pot and view themselves as allies with British enemies. While the premise is brave, it portrays a derogatory slant on modern Muslims that could not be coated with humorous exchange.

Hytner’s production cuts across the stage with customary élan aided by the animations provided by Pete Bishop. The cast perform with panache and tremendous energy, Sophie Stanton’s intolerant barmaid is one of many infective performances. Fred Ridgeway’s pub owner delivered a performance in subtlety and during the latter stages, emotion.

There are gags aplenty, yet these lack wit or satire; the abusive range of expletives is uncomfortable in addition to its comic stereotypes. Far from rejoicing in the multiculturalism of London’s East End, the play prophesises further unrest and resentment. The performance while being entertaining is one that ultimately disappoints.

Sagar Gupta

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My expectations of this comedy were, I have to admit, mixed. Although I realize the importance and perhaps even the necessity of examining British immigration history of the past 400 years, I believed the issue to be too heavy and emotionally-charged to be made light enough for comedy. However, these preconceptions were smashed immediately.

The show was fantastically light hearted whilst not losing sight of the weight of its subject matter, and tackled difficult issues (such as the need for interracial marriage as the true test of integration) with a flair that was at once honest and hilarious. The use of stunning visual elements, a simple multi-purpose set, and a huge variety of accurate costumes (into which the audience could see the actors changing through the use of an ‘onstage backstage’, reinforcing audience’s involvement in what is essentially a presentation of our own heritage) only enhanced the subtle and controlled performances delivered by the entire ensemble cast.

This comedy cannot be faulted, and is a must-see for anyone who counts themselves as ‘British’.

Fabienne Cheung