On tour September-October 2004

THIS SHOW will make you angry. That’s not an uncommon reaction in the theatre where a dud performance can send you seething into the night, but here the reaction is intentional. Private Agenda fires you with the righteous political anger of being sold down the water.

7:84's Private Agenda

On paper, 7:84’s production sounds a tad dull. The prospect of a play about schools, hospitals and road tolls hardly sets the pulse racing. True, it’s not a first-date show (unless you happen to be going out with a local government union rep), but it has a powerful message that makes for an animated and engrossing evening.

7:84’s new artistic director Lorenzo Mele has travelled the country to interview people who work in or use the public sector. Those interviews he has transcribed and put, verbatim, into the mouths of four actors: Tom Freeman, Keith Macpherson, Laura Smales and Anita Vettesse. The questions focus on the effects of PFI, the government’s policy of raising money from business to fund schemes in the state sector.

So we go to Skye, Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Caithness and hear from anti-toll campaigners, teachers, pupils, hospital porters, nurses, patients and managers. With the exception of a teacher who decides, on balance, that the disruption of bringing private companies into the school has marginally improved student facilities, the message is unequivocal. The private finance initiative means that where service was once the priority, now profit is the motive.

When shareholders are more important than children, pregnant women or road users, managements stop making decisions in the best interests of the public. Teachers can’t decorate the classrooms with educational material because it might damage the walls. Porters can’t help any hospital visitor who isn’t a patient because it will reduce their efficiency. Nurses can’t open doors to let the air in without paying for the privilege. Hospitals are built miles from where anyone lives because it is more economical (for who?).

The power of these voices is that they come from ordinary people. Many are apologetic for speaking out of turn, unused to the idea of being heard or having their opinions count for anything. They are not political agitators. In this, 7:84 has struck upon a form of political expression appropriate to the apolitical times, articulating an unarticulated mood of public discontent.

Private Agenda is not a play in the conventional sense, there is no story or character development, but it has a clear-headed drama of its own. Each performance is followed by a discussion to help words be turned into action.

Private Agenda can be seen at the following venues in the North-East and Highlands & Islands:
The Gordon Schools, Huntly, Tuesday 14 September 2004
Lossiemouth, High School, Wednesday 15 September 2004
Deeside Theatre, Aboyne, Thursday 16 September 2004
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, Friday 17 September 2004
Dalrymple Arts Centre, Fraserburgh, Saturday 18 September 2004
Perth Theatre, Tuesday 5-Thursday 7 October 2004
Aros Centre, Portree, Saturday 9 October 2004
Mill Theatre, Thurso, Tuesday 12 October 2004
Nevis Centre, Fort William, Wednesday 13 October 2004
Village Hall, Ballachuilish, Friday 15 October 2004
Corran Halls, Oban, Saturday 16 October 2004
A full tour schedule is available on the 7:84 website (see below)

© Mark Fisher, 2004

Related Links:

• 7:84 Theatre website