Skylight

Theatre review

Skylight

Worthing in Sussex always re-elected Tory MPs in the past and worship of the blessed Margaret Thatcher is widespread. But the town’s Connaught Studio was packed for a recent performance of “Skylight” by David Hare.

The play is part of the National Theatre Live screening programme, where plays are broadcast throughout the country. David Hare made it a condition of putting the play on that it should be broadcast by the NT Live programme.

In it Carey Mulligan plays a teacher. Bill Nighy as her former lover is the epitome of Thatcherism. The play cleverly weaves together a love story, a comedy and a political statement.

David Hare commented in the interval that it was originally staged at the end of the Thatcher era when people working in public services were denigrated and “we have just had four years of the same!”

Carey Mulligan has one final statement. She says teaching is about setting your own objectives, and celebrating them when you achieve them rather than following the daft objectives set by politicians who hate the public services. All teachers will recognise that.

Derek McMilllan