What If MEGA Happened Here?
“They’ve burnt down the Houses of Parliament, so now it’s in Stoke-on-Trent.”
The Prime Minister
Make England Great Again — we live in a world of acronyms, and anyone familiar with American politics will recognise MAGA from the baseball caps worn by you-know-who. Why couldn’t this work here? Answers on a postcard addressed to yourself. This is a 70-minute satire written by Francis Beckett, imagining what might be just around the corner. Writing satire is a difficult task: the action must move forward without repetition. The solution? Don’t take sides; lampoon everyone.
The stage, painted black, is bare except for a few chairs and a low table. A man sits, dressed in a double-breasted suit, looking regal. Another enters in off-the-peg attire. We quickly learn that the seated man is King Charles III (Clive Greenwood), and the other is the newly elected Prime Minister Max Moore (Silas Hawkins). The King suggests informality. The Prime Minister replies, “OK, Charlie.” The King retorts, “No – you can call me Sir.” Then comes the awkwardness of the King sitting first, and the Prime Minister learning his place, he can only sit second. The tables soon turn when the Prime Minister reminds the King that he is a Constitutional monarch and must do as he’s told.
We see the Prime Minister recording a seemingly live, but actually pre-recorded TV interview with a reporter Samantha (Abi Haberfield) who wants to become Chancellor of the Exchequer. Between the on-camera platitudes, we glimpse the real man: interested in women, as many as he can get, drinking £500-a-bottle whisky and of course from a public school albeit minor, Highgate for the local audience. Typical politician?
Next, the Leader of the Opposition Pam Jones (Miranda Colmans) tries to reach a consensus with her party members on a Zoom call before issuing the blandest of statements, completely ineffective.
The Prime Minister demands that the King dissolve Parliament just six days after the election, seeking a larger majority. Unfortunately, the Opposition gains 17 seats and can now form a government. Not so fast: the King is told there are voting irregularities that must be investigated, presumably by a committee of his choosing which will take time.
But then there is an insurrection. When Parliament is burnt down, the Prime Minister addresses the nation. There are demonstrations about Parliament being burnt down and emergency measures come into force against “enemies of the people”. Police will be armed at all times, with shoot-to-kill orders as needed. Loyal party followers will also be armed to assist the police. Any opposition is swiftly dealt with: indefinite imprisonment for the Leader of the Opposition, errant political advisors, liberal judges, and the King. The Tower of London must be full of Air B&B tourists.
Francis Beckett has clearly put considerable effort into crafting this satire. No one is spared, and all dirty laundry is aired in public. There are many witty one liners. The Gatehouse is a small theatre, ideally suited to a well-crafted play with a skilful cast. I enjoyed it.
Malcolm Beckett has been reviewing theatre since 2017
Production Notes
Make England Great Again
Written by Francis Beckett
Directed by Owain Rose
Cast
Starring:
Clive Greenwood
Silas Hawkins
Abi Haberfield
Miranda Colmans
Creatives
Director: Owain Rose
Lighting Designer: Tim Solomons
Information
Running Time: 70 minutes without an interval
Booking
30th September to 5th October and 14th to 19th October 2025
Theatre:
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Highgate Village
London N6 4BD
Box Office: 020 8340 3488
Website: upstairsatthegatehouse.com
Tube: Highgate
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge
at Upstairs at the Gatehouse
on 1st October 2025