Our Country’s Good, at the Rose Theatre from the 30th January to the 4th February, is a play about the redemptive power of theatre and the belief that ‘humanity lies hidden under the rags and filth of a mangled life’. Original Theatre Company’s production certainly reminded the audience of the joys of theatre as they pulled off Wertenbaker’s play with great finesse. The play, based on historical fact, tracks the building of the Australian colony in 1788 but primarily focuses on Governor Phillip’s decision to have the convicts perform the play The Recruiting Officer in hope that the sophisticated language will elevate their minds and the rehearsals will help them work together and develop empathy. The play’s original raison d'être was as a backlash against Thatcher’s Government’s drama cuts in prisons in the 1980s, however Our Country’s Good is still relevant in these times of recession and riots. The actors as Wertenbaker intended doubled up both as the convicts and the officers very effectively reminding the audience of the humanity of both sets of characters. The more serious aspects of the play were well handled, with Emma Gregory playing Liz Morden showing great gravitas in the scene where she, condemned to death, is having her measurements taken for her hanging. Wertenbaker’s humour shone through thanks to the cast’s great comic timing and clear enjoyment in some of her wonderfully witty lines. In particular Jack Lord was a delight to watch, with his hammy acting as Sideway, the would-be Garrick of the convicts and as Collins, the considered and confident judge. Interestingly some of the largest laughs from the audience, were the most self-conscious ones; when for example when Ralph Clark, the officer in charge of the convicts’ play acted by Chris Harper reminds us ‘People who can’t pay attention should not go to the theatre.’ This and other pointed lines made the enjoyable and lively night strike a deeper cord as Timberlake and Original Theatre Company reminded the audience of their role in theatre.