At the Sheffield Playhouse, Leo Butler’s latest drama, “Living,” offers an expansive and ambitious portrayal of a family’s journey through sixty years of modern history. The play masterfully illustrates how its characters are profoundly influenced by monumental events, from the awe-inspiring moon landing to the global challenges of the recent pandemic.
Drawing a parallel to the rapid recaps used in pantomimes for latecomers, Butler’s family saga similarly accelerates through time, but on an epic scale. Instead of merely catching up on a few moments, the production boldly and comprehensively navigates six decades, showcasing key historical milestones. Audiences are taken from 1969 and Neil Armstrong’s lunar step, through 1971’s decimalisation and the cultural phenomenon of the Wombles in 1974. The narrative continues into the political landscape of 1979 with Margaret Thatcher’s rise and the significant events of Orgreave in 1984, culminating in the 2020 Covid-19 crisis, and even referencing more recent events like the Barbie movie and the conflict in Ukraine.