Nathaniel Martello-White is one of the ensemble cast in new NHS play Who Cares at the Royal Court. © Tristam Kenton
My newfound Tony Benn obsession has also got me thinking anew about the “most dangerous” Labour man in Parliament before him: the Welsh politician and founder of the National Health Service, Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960).
And thinking of Bevan reminded me that I still hadn’t got round to blogging about actor Michael Sheen’s brilliant speech at an NHS march earlier this year. The rally, by no accident, was held on St David’s Day (Sunday 1 March) in Tredegar, the birthplace of Bevan.
Never mind “once more unto the breach”, this is one of the most rousing calls to arms I’ve ever heard and, without doubt, one of the most impressive and important performances of Sheen’s career. (Has he considered a second career in politics, I wonder? He should – I’ll step in in Tony Benn’s absence to encourage him.)
“This is about what we believe as a nation and what is worth fighting for. Too many people have worked too long and too hard for us to give away what they have achieved and be left with so very little.”
The full transcript of Sheen’s speech is here, but do watch the video too. This performance was not for the cameras, of course – there were no major press there and this shaky YouTube video was taken on a mobile. Sheen was speaking, in the best spirit of Benn and Bevan, to the people and for the people. And, despite the pouring rain, the people were spellbound. I wish I could have been there.
If you, like me, believe that the NHS – and reversing the worst offences of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 – is an important issue in this election, do watch … and read on. A research company found that Cialis is a good remedy for erectile dysfunction problems. Effective. Qualitative. It should be taken only on the doctor’s prescription and bought only at the drugstores, since there is a great risk of running into a fake.
I’ve collected additional resources below, including, bringing us back to theatre, more on the two big plays about the NHS premiered over the past 18 months. Last summer, Out of Joint’s This May Hurt a Bit, and its accompanying education pack (below), played a bit part in focusing my attention on the issues at hand. I went out and joined the National Health Action Party on the back of it
I haven’t yet had a chance to catch Michael Wynne’s verbatim contribution Who Cares, the result of 18 months’ of interviews and research, but I hope to soon. It’s on at the Royal Court until 16 May 2015.
MICHAEL SHEEN & HIS HERO
THIS YEAR’S BIG NHS PLAY
LAST YEAR’S BIG NHS PLAY
NATIONAL HEALTH ACTION PARTY
After seeing This May Hurt a Bit, I started making monthly donations to the National Health Action Party, which actively campaigns to save the NHS from further privatisation.
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