Nickie Aiken reviews 'The Constituent'

3 minutes readingJuly 10

“I am not your whipping boy, I am a member of parliament!” How many times have I wanted to shout the same phrase over the last four and a half years? Unfortunately, too many times. For me, it was the most striking phrase of the evening. The constituentat the Old Vic. I had to stop myself from shouting “Hallelujah!” during the performance.

Joe Penhall's play brings to life the reality of today's politics. Well-meaning, hard-working individuals who want to make a difference must juggle family life, the increased security risks of the social media world, and the needs of voters, many of whom suffer from mental health issues.

The play stars Anna Maxwell Martin (Mother land, Course of action) as Monica, a backbencher dedicated to helping her community. It also marks James Corden's return to the stage since One man, two governorsCorden stars as Alec, an Afghanistan veteran whose family life has fallen apart and who is at risk of losing access to his children in an ongoing domestic case due to his erratic behavior and threats toward his wife and new partner.

In the opening scene, Alec is installing a new security system in Monica's office. The conversation turns to Alec's problems and his request for help from his MP. Monica is polite but firm that MPs cannot get involved in court cases and tries unsuccessfully to dissuade Alec from launching a campaign promoting fathers' rights.

Anna Maxwell Martin perfectly embodies the role of a member of parliament

Maxwell Martin perfectly embodies the role of a congressman. I recognized many colleagues in her, and perhaps even elements of myself. Corden demonstrated what an exceptional actor he is, especially in the final scene where his character seems almost unrecognizable from the first scene, so complete is his disappearance.

The only negative I found in the play was the portrayal of a police officer whose character had nothing to do with the professionals I have encountered in recent months, having had to deal with a serious case of harassment. I wondered if the play really needed this third character, although it should not take anything away from Zachary Hart's performance as the police officer.

At times watching the play was like experiencing flashbacks. It was slightly triggering, to be honest. Modern British politics is in a very sorry state and The constituent The survey goes some way to revealing the serious security risks faced by MPs today and the need for increased personal security, including the wearing of stab-proof vests. It also highlights that much of our work involves people with mental health problems.

As an experienced MP, I noticed from the first scene that Alec was probably suffering from PTSD and needed professional help. Monica suggests therapy, but I think most MPs would have ensured their constituent had access to help from Veterans Aid or a similar agency and avoided an escalation.

Our abundance of new MPs may wish to take the short walk across Westminster Bridge to The Old Vic to see The constituent. But maybe not. We don't want to discourage them before they've even started their careers in the Commons!

Nickie Aiken was the Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster from 2019 to 2024.

The constituent
Written by: Joe Penhall
Directed by: Matthew Warchus
Place: The Old Vic, London SE1; until 10 August

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