Death of England: Face to Face from NT at Home

If there is anything that the last two years have shown us it’s this: the world is a far less equal place than anyone could ever have imagined, and the pandemic has only gone and exacerbated these inequalities. But not only has it widened the gap between the rich and the poor, it has brought global issues such as racism and discrimination back into the conversation, and called for them to be seriously addressed. 

So in comes Death of England: Face to Face, the National Theatre’s new film that sees two friends, Michael (Neil Maskell) and Delroy (Giles Terera) confront their strained relationship in an East London flat during Britain’s national lockdown. The UK has just left the EU; George Floyd’s assassination has sparked protests in America and all around the world; Covid-19 is ravaging communities, disproportionately affecting ethnic minority groups and furthering societal divisions. Michael and Delroy find themselves having to ask some really difficult questions throughout this turbulent period in human history. What’s more, Delroy has just become a father and does not want his daughter to experience racism like he did – she is the future, his legacy, and he wants to get it right.

Much like the hit television series, Fleabag, the characters speak directly to the camera, involving viewers in their discussions and connecting intimately with them. The screenplay is well written with copious dialogue, though none of it ever feels superfluous. Writers Clint Dyer and Roy Williams use metaphors to create parallels between Britain’s position on the global stage and Michael and Delroy’s personal life stories. With sound performances from the two leads, Death of England: Face to Face offers a snippet of the realities of some of the most marginalised members of society and calls for changes to be made to achieve unity.

Ghazaleh Golpira

Death of England: Face to Face from NT is available to stream via Sky Arts from 25^th November 2021 and released in select cinemas. For further information visit the theatre’s website here.

Read our backstage feature on Death of England: Face to Face here.

Watch a trailer for the production here: