The Last Days of Liz Truss, White Bear Theatre Review
Written by Bronagh for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
We walk into The White Bear Theatre, and are greeted by what is almost like the opening scene of Withnail and I. Liz Truss (Emma Wilkinson Wright) is sitting at her desk, music playing and in a state of contemplation. Much like the ‘I’ character, it would seem like Liz has a bit of a crisis on her hands even if she won’t quite admit it. The Last Days of Liz Truss is a show exploring, of course, Liz Truss’ short lived spell as Prime Minister but also the systematic failings along the way.
Emma Wilkinson Wright is truly amazing at whatever role she is playing. I’ve seen her play a multitude of roles, with her Truss at the top spot. The Last Days of Liz Truss is like watching Truss herself, which I promise is a compliment. Emma really does embody the ‘character’ of Liz Truss, down to the way she is dressed and walks around the stage. She plays on the eccentricities and oddities– karaoke and the sheer disgrace of food being imported anybody? – which is such a delight to watch. Ryan O’Grady is credited with being the voice coach for Truss’ voice and what a fantastic job he has done. It is clear they have ensured that the voice isn’t too monotone, easy to listen to without losing interest.
Let’s not forget that Truss also had her Cabinet behind her. A Cabinet who are all voiced by Emma herself. From the frantic Kwesi Kwarteng panicking about whether he will have a job tomorrow, to Therese Coffey puffing on a cigar, Emma flips between each role seamlessly and to the gleeful delight of the audience. Even her Margaret Thatcher is spot on, her portrait being pride of place on her office wall and speaking directly to her.
Hilarities aside, The Last Days of Liz Truss does not shy away from the failures of Truss’ government and the mockery that ensued. You genuinely can’t help but feel slightly sorry for Truss, inheriting an already suffering government and her Premiership being outlived by a lettuce. Jokes aside, on the face of it it is easy to laugh at those fateful 49 days. The Last Days of Liz Truss does remind us that there is a human beneath it all who was the subject of a lot of criticism and mockery which can’t have been easy. Does a single person really deserve any of that on such a large scale, no matter how ‘useless’ people think they are?
I had the pleasure of watching a rehearsed reading of The Last Days of Liz Truss earlier this year, and was very excited to see the finished product. It absolutely lived up to my expectations, just as funny as the first time round and just as powerful. Will this be the last we see of Liz Truss? Will we have another play about her in years to come? I almost hope so, just to see Emma’s brilliant performance again!
At The White Bear Theatre until 14th December 2024.
★★★★★
