It’s 1066. The French have invaded England, no one understands the new tax laws or the Latin church services, and Joan has a plan. It may or may not include livestock.
When Joan convinces her local priest to let her write and direct a morality play for the village, she accidentally starts something she can’t finish, unknowingly lands herself in the middle of a land dispute, and discovers that the Bible is considerably more exciting than anyone let on.
Set in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest, God Save Us! is a comedy about power, information and what happens when the people making the rules assume nobody else is paying attention.
Review by D.C. Jackson.
God Save Us! is an irreverent comedy with a promising concept, plenty of entertaining moments and a theatrical sensibility reminiscent of Monty Python and Blackadder. Written and directed by Escalan Gates, the production explores religious authority, ambition and the pursuit of power through a world of scheming clergy, absurd situations and satirical humour.
One of the production’s greatest strengths is its visual design. The set is cleverly constructed, with banners transforming the stage into a chapel or place of worship. This is complemented by an imaginative opening that invites the audience to participate as members of a congregation, immediately drawing them into the world of the play. It is an engaging theatrical device that establishes the tone and demonstrates the production’s willingness to play with the relationship between performers and audience.
The standout performances come from Xavier Atkins and George MacGowan as Nicholas and Theodore, two monks/priests plotting, in decidedly Machiavellian fashion, to acquire land that does not belong to them. Both actors bring an infectious comic energy to their roles, displaying strong characterisation and excellent comic instincts. They consistently steal the scenes they appear in, making their scheming duo one of the most memorable aspects of the production. Their performances provide some of the evening’s strongest laughs and demonstrate just how effective the material can be when paired with confident comic timing.
The rest of the cast perform well, with Lily Blunsom giving a good performance as Asa. However, the character would benefit from further development. While Blunsom makes a positive contribution, Asa feels somewhat formulaic within the wider narrative. Greater depth, more clearly defined motivations and a stronger individual journey would allow the character to become more distinctive and give the actor greater opportunities to explore the role.
At 75 minutes, the one-act format provides a compact theatrical experience. Nevertheless, the writing would benefit from further polish and a tighter approach to storytelling. Although there are some genuinely funny moments, the humour and character dynamics do not always reach their full potential. Certain elements feel predictable where a more unexpected development or a sharper comedic reversal might have elevated the material.
There is, however, considerable promise in Gates’ writing. The combination of absurdist humour, satire and larger-than-life characters could be developed into a confident, accessible comedy. There are echoes of the theatrical playfulness associated with Mischief Theatre and its Goes Wrong shows, particularly in the potential for escalating situations, bold character choices and ensemble-driven comedy. With further refinement, God Save Us! could establish a stronger comic identity of its own.
Ultimately, this is an enjoyable production with a clever concept, an effective set and two particularly strong central performances. The foundations are firmly in place, and the shortcomings feel like opportunities for development rather than fundamental problems. A little more attention to the script, pacing and character development, especially in the case of Asa, could make a significant difference.
God Save Us! is a production I would happily return to see in a future iteration. There is something genuinely appealing about its irreverent spirit, and with a few adjustments, it has the potential to become a sharper, more fully realised piece of comic theatre.
Cast
Julie Joubert as Joan
George MacGowan as Theodore
Xavier Atkins as Nicholas
Charlie James-Howard as Stephen
Lily Blunsom as Asa.
Creatives
Writer & Director: Esalan Gates
Producer: Codex Theatre
Costume Designer: Sarah Randall
Lighting Designer: Tom McVeigh
Venue: The Lion & Unicorn Theatre
Format: One-act play
Running Time: 75 minutes
Social Media
Instagram: @codextheatre & @landutheatre
BlueSky:@landutheatre.bsky.social
esalangates.com/codex-theatre-company/