The Greatest Wealth: Old Vic streams monologues to celebrate NHS
David Farnor | On 02, Jun 2020
The Old Vic is streaming a series of monologues online for free to celebrate the NHS.
Originally staged in 2018, The Greatest Wealth is a string of one-person shorts. Durated by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Adrian Lester to mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS, they span each decade since the creation of the NHS. The monologues salute and discuss the past, present and future of our NHS, an extraordinary institution that supports every single one of us.
All eight monologues are being streamed online throughout the coronavirus lockdown, joined by a new commission for 2020 written by Booker Prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo. The monologues are funded by the TS Eliot Estate, with new monologues released every Thursday at 12pm on the Old Vic’s YouTube channel. Starting on 14th May, performers and writers have included Sophie Stone and Jack Thorne, David Threlfall and Paul Unwin and Meera Syal.
The monologues join the Old Vic’s new streaming initiative, which begins on Friday 5th June with a free broadcast of a recording of A Monster Calls – kicking off a series of free online streams that will debut on Friday nights and be available for seven days each. The Old Vic will also be streaming a new paid production of Lungs, performed by a socially distant Claire Foy and Matt Smith in the empty theatre.
Here’s the line-up of upcoming monologues:
Sister Susan (1970s) – 4th June
By Moira Buffini, performed by Dervla Kirwan
Speedy Gonzales (1980s) – 11th June
By Lolita Chakrabarti, performed by Art Malik
Family Room (1990s) – 18th June
By Courttia Newland, performed by Jade Anouka
Choice & Control (2000s) – 25th June
By Matilda Ibini, performed by Ruth Madeley
The Nuchess (2010s) – 2nd July
By Seiriol Davies, performed by Louise English
Previous broadcasts
Boo (1940s)
By Jack Thorne, performed by Sophie Stone
At the Point of Need (1950s)
By Paul Unwin, performed by David Threlfall
Rivers (1960s)
Written and performed by Meera Syal