Why David Edgar’s ‘Destiny’ could be the most important thing you do this bank holiday weekend

There are ways to spend a Bank Holiday Sunday that don’t involve sitting in a dark room watching a 50-year-old piece of theatre. You could take a stroll, trying to ignore headlines about toxic Westminster debacles. Stop for brunch, and see how long you can hold out before pondering why extremism and division seem to be back in fashion.

Alternatively, come to The Cockpit on 3 May and fill up on truth and inspiration as David Edgar’s definitive analysis of far-right populism – Destiny – returns to the stage. You’ll be in good company. This is a revival reading produced by Byline Times and Bylines Network, with a stellar cast, a discussion panel of leading progressive commentators, and Edgar himself.

Theatres are, by their nature, rooms with the lights down. But visiting this one next Sunday could illuminate your bank holiday weekend, and shift the needle of public debate on the eve of pivotal elections in Scotland, Wales, and English councils.

A special gathering with a powerful purpose

Roger Allam (Endeavour, Game of Thrones), Akshay Khanna (The Doll Factory, Chloe), Mark Quartley (Tell Me Everything, Henry VI), Alec Boaden (Punch), Geoffrey Streatfield and Emma Manton (renowned RSC performers), and Bylines Times editor-in-chief Hardeep Matharu are all taking roles in the play.

If Olivier and BAFTA winners don’t entice, then the post-show discussion panel features heavy-hitting political commentators Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Kenan Malik, Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth), and Andy Bell (Searchlight).

Why would this gathering of talent give up newspaper columns, broadcast studios, film sets, and family rest days? As Geoffrey explains:

“In an era of resurgent nationalism, with anti-immigrant sentiment weaponised by a far-right party on the cusp of power, David Edgar’s unsurpassed examination of how such forces arise is more prescient and necessary than ever.”

Emma Manton goes further, arguing that if “Destiny now feels incredibly timely”, it’s not a fluke:

“Edgar’s work asks us to reflect on where we’ve been and where we might be heading.”

As their words show, this event isn’t really about the big names who are taking part. Its purpose is to inform how we tackle the present with lessons from the 1970s. A time when an anti-fascist movement stopped the extreme right-wing in its tracks.

What 1976 can teach 2026

First performed by the RSC in 1976, Destiny centres on a fictional West Midlands town racked with tensions, examining how economic anxiety and nationalism can be manipulated to enable far-right movements to flourish. It also offers an alternative, in the form of multicultural unity around common interests.

It was hailed as a political theatre masterpiece. Leading theatre critic Michael Billington described it as “rackingly eloquent and vitally important”.

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Edgar started working on it after witnessing the National Front capitalise on fear and poverty in northern England. As he investigated further, he recognised the use of misinformation to foster racial division, and the nexus of economic and political power that underpins right-wing populism. He was a local newspaper reporter at the time, concerned with grassroots communities.

This isn’t lost on Bylines Network – we are a community-driven publisher – but the bigger historical parallels are more compelling. Destiny arrived on stage against the backdrop of an unpopular Labour government, anti-immigration sentiment, a looming oil crisis, and decreasing living standards.

It sought to expose how the National Front attempted to turn racism and economic grievance into political power. It succeeded. The original show was adapted into a BBC television film, helped encourage other creatives to found Rock Against Racism, and contributed to a resounding defeat for the NF at the 1979 general election.

More than just a revival – an act of social good

In Britain and beyond, we are experiencing a new era of populism, anti-migrant rhetoric, conspiracy culture and polarisation. Social media has accelerated the spread of misinformation and hatred. Mainstream parties too often echo the language of fear. The ideology of resentment has moved from the fringe to the front page.

Edgar’s Destiny remains a near-complete exposition of something many commentators seem to miss about the current situation: extremism doesn’t emerge from nowhere. It grows when politicians fail to challenge prejudice, when people lose faith in democratic institutions, and insecurity is weaponised.

It may be celebrating its 50^th anniversary, but it is not an old play. It is utterly relevant and contemporary. The actors reading this freshly abridged version are not just performing. The panel debating after each reading is not just chatting. In the tradition of the most powerful theatre, the Destiny revival is an act of social good.

A few days later, voters for the Welsh Senedd, Scottish Parliament, and English councils will be faced with some stark choices. There is doubt that voters are being asked what kind of politics they want to reward, just as they were in the 1970s.

At a moment when too many people feel powerless, disconnected, or exhausted by politics, gathering in a room to confront questions like this has value in itself.

The forces Edgar wrote about haven’t disappeared. The first step to defeating division is understanding how it works.

Bank Holiday Sundays come around a few times every year. A chance to witness a major political play, performed by an outstanding cast, in the middle of a defining democratic moment does not. Join us on 3 May.