When the film, directed by Ken Loach, was released in 2016, it told a story against the backdrop of ‘austerity Britain’. A mere seven years later and the stage adaptation of I, Daniel Blake tells the same story in the midst of a cost of living crisis, and it’s a shocking indictment that things haven’t got better, if anything, they’re worse.
The play premiered at Northern Stage, coming to Stratford East as part of a wider UK tour. This is the kind of the production that needs to be seen far and wide, because it brutally and honestly shows us the harsh realities of the benefits system.
This I, Daniel Blake is adapted by Dave Johns, who actually played the titular character on the big screen. It’s perhaps unsurprising then that the Dan we see on stage, played by David Nellist, is about as authentic a character as you can get. Government ministers may have referred to this as a work of fiction, but we’re left in no doubt just how deeply it is rooted in reality.
Daniel Blake is a widower, a man who has worked his whole life, paid his National Insurance in full, and had been told by his doctor he’s unable to go back to work following a heart attack. The Department for Work and Pensions say different. So Daniel is left in limbo, unable to claim the benefits he needs while being forced to apply for jobs he cannot take.
As he waits for his appeal to be heard (a hugely frustrating process) he meets Katie and her daughter Daisy. They’re in a similar position, after being sanctioned for being late to an appointment and losing benefits for four weeks. They help each other where they can, and offer the kind of support that money can’t buy, not that they could afford to pay for it anyway.
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Rhys Jarman’s utilitarian set is comprised of metal shelving, which moves to create Dan’s flat, Katie’s house, and the job centre which causes everyone so much grief. A screen on the back wall alternates between those three word slogans so beloved by the current government and the words spoken by politicians presented as social media posts.
A litany of broken promises and top tier gaslighting literally hangs over the heads of our characters, the ‘working poor’. Neither Mark Calvert’s direction nor Dave John’s’ writing seeks to dehumanise these people, it demonstrates that they are dehumanised by the state who is supposed to act as a safety net.
There are some lighter moments, witty one liners ricochet off the harsher topics, and the opening of act two includes a rap from Kema Sikazwe, who starred in the original film. It’s also very touching, particularly the scenes between Dan and Daisy (Jodie Wild).
Nellist absolutely nails the character of Daniel, and Bryony Corrigan brings an emotional edge to the role of Katie. The cast work well together to create the kind of community spirit that’s so vital to this story.
I, Daniel Blake is the kind of play that should make you mad, and probably will. This is a fantastic example of a screen to stage adaptation that captures the spirit of the film, as well as the mood of the nation.
I, Daniel Blake is at Stratford East until 28th October and then continues to tour.
