Fatherland at Hampstead Theatre Review
Fatherland. Photo by Pamela Raith
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Fathers will always have the greatest impact on a woman’s life, and the dynamics between a daughter and her father will affect every male relationship she has. Fatherland explores a dysfunctional yet loving relationship between father Winston Smith (Jason Thorpe) and his daughter, Joy (Nancy Farino), on an ill-planned trip to County Mayo, Ireland, in search of their long-lost relatives.
This one-act play is the debut of writer Nancy Farino, who also plays Joy in this production. For a debut production, this play is stunning in how beautifully it weaves different elements into the overarching storyline. The main plot is the life of Winston Smith, who, despite his daily mantra of only good things happen to him, is besieged by difficulties, many of which are his own making. His job as a life coach has gone awry, and this is slowly revealed during the discussions between him and his solicitor, Olivia (Shona Babayemi). His inability to handle the difficult decisions and consequences in life led him to create a last minute road trip to Ireland with his depressed and lonely daughter, Joy, in an attempt to forge a closer bond.
The themes in this play are brilliantly laid out in subtext, whether a strained connection between adult and child, the dangerous deregulation of the Life Coach industry and the long-term impact of dysfunctional relationships. I was especially intrigued by the mythic dreams Joy engages in throughout, with changing themes of choosing hope and renewal over revenge and woe.
Director Tessa Walker, designer Debbie Duru and movement director Rebecca Wield also created a phenomenal visualisation of a moving bus that is entirely captivating with very few props used. The pacing of one hour and forty minutes mostly works well in building the storylines with great interest; however, there are many loose ends and unresolved elements that hang without closure at the end. Therefore, although ending on a hopeful note, this confusion lessens the impact overall.
The characters are impressively rendered as flawed but caring individuals with beautifully layered performances from the cast. From wounded solicitor Olivia supporting Winston despite being an Olympic long shot, Joy struggling to find her way forwards after personal tragedy or Winston’s genuine desire to help others and himself have a positive life. The cast worked together with impressive chemistry, and I was impressed at the slowly unfurled vulnerabilities throughout.
This is a nuanced and powerful play which is filled with quirky humour and scathing commentary that will entice and intrigue. If you enjoy heartfelt tragic comedies, brilliant new writers or enjoying someone else experiencing a road trip gone wrong, then this is the show for you.
Plays at Hampstead Theatre until 29 November 2025
★ ★ ★ ★
