Rock ’N’ Roll

Text of the day: “This place has lost its nerve. They put something in the water since you were here. It’s a democracy of obedience. They’re frightened to use their minds in case their minds tell them heresy. They apologise for history. They apologise for good manners. They apologise for difference. It’s a contest of apology.” (Lenka in Tom Stoppard’s Rock ’N’ Roll)

apology conformism culture of fear Englishness Hampstead Theatre national identity Rock ’N’ Roll state of the nation Tom Stoppard