The Land of Might-Have-Been

Now more widely known for the songwriting awards that bear his name, dramatist, singer and composer Ivor Novello became one of the  most popular entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Meanwhile, Vera Brittain was a socialist, feminist, and was the pacifist author of 'Testament of Youth'. Published in 1933, it remains, to this day, one of the most powerful and emotive accounts of World War One. The legacy of these two names together inspired 'The Land of Might-Have-Been', a musical co-production between Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival. It was written and conceived by Michael Williams, thanks largely to a certain Baroness Williams of Crosby, the daughter of Vera Brittain. For it was Shirley Williams, as a long-standing supporter of Buxton International Festival, that first planted the seed for the idea of a musical based on her mother's life.
 
After premiering in Buxton earlier this month, The Land of Might-Have-Been is running at the Theatre Royal this week. And, judging by the reaction from last night's Norwich audience, it was  an inspirational and moving experience – a story of love that transcends gender, class and ethnicity, and highlights the senseless tragedy and futility of war as witnessed though Vera Brittain's eyes.
 
Novello's songs play a key part – classics like 'Waltz of My Heart', 'I Can Give You The Starlight', and 'My Life Belongs To You' all fit superbly with the narrative, even though some were not even written until well after the cessation of hostilities. Other numbers have been specially written by composer Iain Farrington and writer Michael Williams. But this is a show about context, and thanks to these arrangements and additional compositions, all of the music and songs hit the target with imposing accuracy.
 
Audrey Brisson is absolutely stunning in the role of Vera Brittain – she is a pocket dynamo whose voice is a maelstrom of power and passion. It is a smart match for George Arvidson, whose tortured portrayal of her brother Edward is filled with flair and flamboyance. Countering each is Brittain's earnest fiancé, Roland Leighton (played by Alexander Knox), and Edward's frustrated (and partly fictionised) lover, Bobby (Kit Esuroso). It is the infernal quadrangle of these loves and friendships that remains key to our engagement with the characters throughout the show.