Angie Johnson thoroughly enjoys Stella Feehily's clever drama examining the state of the NHS

What a clever theatrical fusion this new work from the highly regarded Out of Joint Theatre Company is. Playwright Stella Feehily has combined intelligent political polemic with a touching story of realistic and well-rounded characters, and in so doing succeeds in exercising both the audience’s brains and hearts in one fell swoop. It also serves up singing, dancing and first-rate impersonations of Winston Churchill and Nye Bevan.

There are two intertwined narratives in This May Hurt a Bit. One is the simple but moving story of an ordinary family’s encounters with local health services. The other is an observation of the political and ideological history of the National Health Service and the current economic predicament facing this most cherished yet vulnerable national treasure.

Another national treasure, the outstanding Stephanie Cole, plays Iris — who is visited by her daughter Mariel and son-in-law Hank, a highly successful product of the US healthcare industry. When he disparages the NHS, the venerable Iris is its funny, wise and sharp champion. Discursive points become all too real, however, when Iris’s son Nicholas (a winning performance by Brian Protheroe) is diagnosed with a prostate condition and she has a fall and we follow this ‘every family’ through their experiences at the local hospital.

Told with humour, truth, and understanding, their exploits brought laughter, tears, and some wincing to the audience.

The other strand of the play relates to the hard facts facing the service and are told with a surreal flourish using many devices — messages flickering across an LED, songs and dances, characters with graphs explaining facts and figures, outbursts from actors hidden in the auditorium — stirring stuff and a real call to arms.

There are so very many elements in this production that could have fallen flat or seemed out of place, but under the sure-handed direction of Max Stafford-Clark, the disparate elements are merged perfectly — triumphantly even. It is full of information but also very funny and entertaining. I was enthralled by the production’s complexity, bravado and freshness and also the fine performances of each member of the eight-strong cast. Doubling up in some very contrasting roles they were an example of ensemble theatre at its best.

This May Hurt A Bit
Oxford Playhouse
Until Saturday
01865 305305 oxfordplayhouse.com