Britannia Rules

Themes

The play spans a period of some 14 years or so but begins in the times just before World War Two. Many of the themes, however,  are just as relevent to today’s society:

• Poverty/lack of employment
• War
• Ambition
• Integration of foreign nationals
• Lack of morals in young people compared to their elders
• Racism- lots of anti-German sentiment is a sign of the war years setting
• Dependence of young people on their elders

Synopsis

The play opens in a stately home during war time to which our charcaters have been evacuated. There is an immediate and evident contrast between the two social classes and it is clear that the evacuees are fearful of their new situation, as much as a result of the grandeur of their temporary home as because of their separation from family.

Structure

• Each Part progresses chronologically. Between them, there is a gap of

14 years.

• There are 15 scenes, giving the play a cinematic structure. This

technique pushes the storyline on quickly, even when there is a break

in the time sequence. It builds up a sense of tension.

Characters

• One important character, Auntie Betty, only appears in Part Two.

• One influential character – Elizabeth Quinn – does not appear at all

but we hear a great deal about her and recognise her influence on

Morag.

• The children’s parents too are unseen but important; their very

absence has a significant effect on the children.

• Two nationalities are involved – Scottish and German. The Germans

are the off-stage villains of the war, killing the families of our

characters. At the same time, German Agatha is a heroine to Emily

and a victim of persecution by the British government.

• Religion. The children have a barely-conscious awareness of the

religious difference between them, if only at the level of football

teams. As an adult, Hughie rejects the bigotry, even though he is

alienating his father in doing so.