The Constituent at the Old Vic

Who would want to be a Member of Parliament? It certainly requires a particularly acute sense of moral duty to eclipse the increasingly evident dangers of the role. When Jo Cox MP was tragically murdered in 2016, a whole raft of additional security measures were hurriedly introduced to reassure a shaken House of Commons, to the unfortunate detriment of access to their constituents and personability on a face-to-face level.

Joe Penhall’s new play, The Constituent, plunges its audience right into this fraught dynamic, tracking interactions – over a number of weeks – between three characters: an MP with a compassionate disposition (Anna Maxwell Martin), an ex-soldier amidst a collapse of his life both professional and personal (James Cordon), and a stonewall parliamentary protection officer on behalf of the Metropolitan Police (Zachary Hart).

Former serviceman, Alec, portrayed ruggedly by Cordon in an effectively frightening performance, is hired to install security hardware in the office of Monica, a Member of Parliament trying to make a difference for her constituents in the face of disruptive, albeit necessary, safety measures. A personal connection is established between the pair, which begins to sour as Alec’s life falls apart around him and he turns to Monica for help. Called upon to facilitate the interaction is protection officer Mellor. Indeed, The Constituent’s greatest draw is its unique building and exploration of a big-picture issue through the conversations of only these three individuals.

Penhall’s new play, otherwise staged simply in the round, projecting settings of the home and workplace, possesses the unique semi-boast of being both deeply detailed in its presentation and yet somewhat unpolished in how it comes off. This isn’t even particularly unwelcome, as it ushers an unpretentious feel to proceedings, enhancing the realism of the project. The Constituent is an effective piece, awash with wit and fear in equal measure, a sinisterly fair reflection of a very real issue of parliamentarians’ safety.

Will Snell
Images: Manuel Harlan

The Constituent is at the Old Vic from 13^th June until 10^th August 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.