17.63°C Richard Bland has lived with Our Country’s Good for a long time. He first studied Timberlake Wertenbaker’s acclaimed play at A-level, has directed it before, explored it with acting students, and now brings it to Castle Park Theatre in Colchester with Stage Craft @’s Adult Acting Company.
Ahead of the production’s run later this month, I caught up with Richard to talk about the play, why it continues to resonate, and what audiences can expect.
For anyone who hasn’t come across Our Country’s Good before, where does the story begin?
“At its core, it’s a story about survival, humanity and the redemptive power of art. It’s based on the true story of the first Australian penal colony in the 1780s. You have this group of starving, brutalised British convicts and the equally isolated Royal Marines guarding them. The convicts faced an impossible choice – be hanged or endure an eight-month voyage into exile in Australia.
“Amidst all this despair, a young lieutenant decides to put on a play – a comedy – cast entirely with convicts.
“It shows how people who have been told they are nothing can suddenly find their voice, dignity and humanity simply by telling a story together. It’s incredibly funny, completely raw and deeply moving. We’ve got 21 people in the cast and seven in the production team, all local, and it really feels like a production built by the community and about community.”
Richard has returned to the play several times over the years, so I was interested to know what keeps drawing him back.
“I studied it at A-level 17 years ago, I’ve seen two professional productions, directed it as a 24-hour fundraiser in 2013, and later spent ten weeks exploring it with my adult acting classes.
“When I was looking for something with a large cast that would give local performers a rich and rewarding experience, this felt like the natural choice. The cast became so inspired by the story that they asked if we could put it on.
“What keeps drawing me back is the transformation. You watch people who have been completely broken by life slowly discover their self-worth through theatre. It’s one of the most beautiful character journeys in contemporary drama.”
Richard directed Ben Hur at Castle Park Theatre last summer, but says this production will use the space in a very different way.
“Open-air theatre is a rite of passage for an emerging performer. Castle Park has an atmosphere you simply can’t recreate inside a traditional theatre.
“For Our Country’s Good, the environment does half the work. The characters are exposed to the elements in an unforgiving landscape, and when the sun goes down and the shadows lengthen across the park, you genuinely feel like you’re standing alongside them in the penal colony.”
Although the story takes place in 1789, Richard believes its themes are anything but historical.
“The issues haven’t gone away. Do we punish people to break them, or rehabilitate them to build a better society?
“In a world where the arts are constantly having to justify themselves, this play reminds us that storytelling isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. I’ve seen theatre, community and creativity genuinely change people’s lives. For these convicts, putting on a play becomes essential to their survival and their sanity.”
Bringing together a cast of 21 has presented its own challenges.
“It’s a huge ensemble piece, and making sure every character gets the attention they deserve on an amateur rehearsal schedule isn’t easy.
“But that’s where Stage Craft comes into its own. We put people before plays and stories before egos. The cast and production team have tackled it fearlessly, and watching them perform fills me with pride.”
Ask Richard about the moments he’s most looking forward to sharing with audiences, and it’s difficult for him to settle on just one.
“The first rehearsal of the play within the play is a real highlight. You’ve got hardened criminals, some facing the hangman’s noose, suddenly arguing about forgotten lines and stage directions. It’s hilarious, but there’s real poignancy too.
“I also think audiences will be moved by Liz Morden and Ketch Freeman. Liz has been betrayed throughout her life and uses anger as a shield, while Ketch is forced into an impossible position. Their stories are incredibly powerful.”
The rehearsal process has also been about much more than learning lines.
“We’ve spent hours exploring the history behind these characters, mapping timelines and improvising scenes from the eight-month voyage to Australia.
“Because of that work, they aren’t just saying lines. They’re bringing a shared, lived-in history to the stage. They trust each other completely, and you can feel that every time they’re together.”
Finally, I wanted to know what kind of evening Richard hopes audiences will experience.
“They can expect something gritty, thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting. This isn’t a polite period drama. It’s loud, messy and full of life.
“You’ll laugh, you’ll probably shed a tear, and you’ll leave believing in the power of human resilience.”
Our Country’s Good runs at Castle Park Theatre in the Lower Bowling Green in Colchester’s Castle Park from 23rd-25th July, with evening performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee. Our Country’s Good will also be performed at Black Brook Theatre on Friday 14th August at 7pm.
