The Liberty Tree
Cockpit Theatre, London NW8
5/5

IF YOU were on the anti-austerity march last Saturday, now’s your chance to see the musical.

Chris Jury’s The Liberty Tree at the Cockpit Theatre perfectly captures the spirit of the fight against austerity. Very much a drama for our times, it’s a witty and exuberant celebration of resistance.

The story begins in a call centre, where worn-down staff are being told that the company has been taken over. As a result, the bonus scheme has been suspended and zero-hours contracts are being introduced.

Josh (Tito Ogedengbe), who tries to persuade his workmates to resist, is victimised for taking an unauthorised toilet break and protagonist Rosa (Hannah Squires) goes home wracked with guilt for not standing by him.

That night she dreams that she’s in the Land Of Do What You Are Told, whose populace bows down before wealth and power and, pathetically grateful for the exploitation they suffer, the wage slaves positively embrace their chains. Rosa’s only way home is to find the Liberty Tree and in the process set everyone free.

Together with a rebel troubadour (Tito Ogedengbe doubling up as Joe Singer), she sets out on her quest, pursued by the authorities, liberating various wage slaves along the way.

Skint Largely (Sinead Doherty), Glum Woebegone (Catrin Young) and Merry Even (Jessica Hughes) are all persuaded to recognise their oppression, cast off their chains and be free.

With song, dance and music, The Liberty Tree is a timely revival of agitprop theatre. It’s a musical with jokes and political argument, all carried off tremendous gusto by a fine cast. Brecht meets the Wizard of Oz in a production which shows that political argument and struggle is not just necessary, it’s also fun.

And how does it all end in the real world? Well let’s just say it had this member of the audience on his feet, cheering, singing and attempting to dance.

The Liberty Tree is a show which captures the tide with an uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable evening’s entertainment that helps prepare — and inspire — us for the struggles to come.

Final performances on Saturday June 27 at 2.30pm and 7.30 pm, box office: thecockpit.org.uk

Review by John Newsinger