★★★★
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the dark fable Nation at the Exeter Phoenix. Exploring nationhood and national identity through the story of a town and a very bad thing that has just happened there, it certainly wasn't a conventional theatrical experience. Performed in the round, the production centres around one man, played by Sam Ward, the self-proclaimed 'storyteller', who commands the stage.
The intimate staging becomes increasingly unsettling as the story progresses, with us as audience members becoming silent, symbolic members of the performance: butchers, bakers and townspeople. My friend was labelled the 'bored-looking drama teacher' from the start, which was hilarious, and continued in this role throughout the show. I loved how the storyteller acknowledged that we must be enjoying being part of the narrative, because I certainly was. I found myself eagerly anticipating which part I would be given and would play for the rest of the story. However, the fact that we didn't actually have to act out these roles, but were instead simply stand-ins for the characters, made the experience more relaxed, enjoyable and accessible for audiences without a theatrical background. It also created a comedic layer to the otherwise sinister story, as each character only had a voice through the storyteller. As audience members, we were also asked to imagine various happenings on stage, most memorably a cow... with a hat on.
Although there was no physical set, the actor's performance and physicality, alongside the way in which the audience were drawn into the show, meant that nothing felt missing. The stark white lighting and blackouts at key moments created an atmosphere of suspense, with moments that genuinely had me holding onto my friend's hand in fear.
Following the performance, I had the opportunity to interview Ward, who wrote the show as well as performing it, about some of the creative decisions behind the production. He explained that 'a lot of the influences were dark, thriller, supernatural TV shows... I wanted to write a thriller, something that had a plot and mystery and suspense.' He also spoke about the music composed by Carmel Smickersgill, another element that contributed to the show's eerie atmosphere. Describing the music, he said it was 'rich and quite thick and evokes this folkloric thriller energy'.
Finally, when I asked Ward about the decision to stage the production in the round, he explained that 'because the show is inviting the audience to imagine a thing together... being a stand-in for how nations work, being able to see each other felt really important.' This was particularly interesting in the context of the show's exploration of nationhood, as the staging itself reflected the collective experience at the heart of the story.
Towards the end of the performance, a major twist changes the way you view what has come before, sparking plenty of conversation among audience members afterwards. I walked into Nation not knowing quite what to expect and left with a lot to think about.
Nation concludes its Autumn 2026 run at Brighton Dome from 14–16 November. I would thoroughly recommend catching it if you are looking for something a little different: a production that combines dark humour, mystery and an immersive theatrical experience.
Thank you to the Exeter Phoenix for providing us with complimentary tickets in exchange for our honest review.
