Last modified on Fri 18 Dec 2020 03.15 EST
How does a playwright attempt to sum up 2020 in five minutes?
The answer, for James Graham, is with a musical short film, shot in lockdown, featuring a community choir and a Macedonian orchestra. Entitled We Begin Again, the film – a collaboration with the Guardian in partnership with the National Theatre – is released online on Thursday.
Graham and composer Jim Fortune decided they wanted to create something anthemic and uplifting, a balm at the end of a torrid year of Covid-19 restrictions and Brexit uncertainty. Tapping into the momentum of climate crisis protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, Graham wanted to look forward to the possibilities of 2021, as well as acknowledge the damage that has been done this year.
We Begin Again, created with
The Guardian.
This House) and music by Jim Fortune (
Pericles), the piece is part of the National s Public Acts scheme to make work alongside communities across the UK.
The piece features Anita Dobson (
EastEnders), Zubin Varla (
Enola Holmes) and Noah Thomas (
Everybody s Talking About Jamie) as well as members of the NT s Public Acts community partner organisations in Doncaster in partnership with Cast (B:friend, Conversation Club, Edlington Community Organisation (ECO), Cast Young Company, darts, Right Up Our Street) and Greater London community partners (Bromley by Bow Centre, Body & Soul, Coram, DABD, Havering Asian Social Welfare Association (HASWA), Open Age, Thames Reach, The Faith & Belief Forum). There are also a number of community choirs in the musical video, while Quirky Choir (Doncaster) and Faithworks Gospel Choir (London) featuring as cameo choirs.