The Fool

Synopsis

A rural English village in the early 19th century, where poverty and social inequality simmer beneath a veneer of tradition and order.

John Clare, a gifted but impoverished poet, struggles to reconcile his artistic passion with the harsh realities of peasant life. As industrialisation and land enclosure threaten the old ways, Clare finds himself caught between two worlds – the literary circles of London that praise his “natural” genius, and his rural community that views his pursuits with suspicion. His internal conflict is mirrored in his relationships with Patty, his long-suffering wife, and Mary, an idealized love interest.

Bond’s sprawling, episodic play spans decades, following Clare’s descent into madness as he grapples with societal changes, artistic frustration, and mental illness. Through a series of vignettes – from raucous country fairs to tense encounters with the gentry – the playwright paints a vivid portrait of a man out of step with his time. With unflinching brutality and moments of stark poetry, The Fool explores themes of class struggle, the commodification of art, and the crushing weight of societal expectations. As Clare’s grip on reality loosens, the play becomes a haunting meditation on the price of sensitivity in an insensitive world.