The Heart of Adrian Lovett ​★★★★★

The term ‘immersive theatre’ is used liberally these days, isn’t it? A couple of actors sitting amongst the audience when they should be off-stage, and an awkward moment when the lead character hits on you, and suddenly the play you’re watching is ‘immersive’.
Or so I thought for the first half of this new play, The Heart of Adrian Lovett, written and directed by rising star Mark Knightley, in which a bleak vision of a privatised NHS is exposed for all its celebrity seeking, money hunting, morally absent character. This was before the actors slipped silkily out of their accents, turned their chairs around to become the audience’s audience and opened the floor up to discussion. What did we think? Would we be happy to pay £10 for a visit to A&E? How had we responded to the picture of the NHS they had painted so far?
The Heart of Adrian Lovett review
And indeed, it was ‘immersive’. More than halfway through the play and audience members were so riled up they began cutting across one another to have their opinions heard - “I would pay £10 if it meant someone who couldn't pay £10 could go for free”, “they do it better in America”, “private healthcare is ruining our NHS” - and even taking the chance to admonish the on-stage daemons.
The Heart of Adrian Lovett is a well-acted political debate masquerading as a play with plenty of gags. Those interested in political drama will enjoy being face-to-face with the gritty reality of a sector going through meltdown and the soulless, superficial nature of celebrity, with a fantastically slick set design to boot. 
Political theatre London 2015: The Heart of Adrian Lovett
In the last publicly owned hospital in the UK, has-been celebrity Adrian Lovett (James McLaren) is preparing for his televised heart transplant after years of drinking himself into a life threatening condition. He hopes that a bit of on screen drama and (“could you make it look like something’s gone wrong in the operation, doc?”) will reboot his career and enamour the hordes of ‘fans’ who follow him round the hospital - who are actually hordes of disillusioned public, angry at a health care system that gives more to those who can afford it. Lovett battles against the stern Scottish surgeon Miss Butts (Harriet Madeley) the left-wing hero of this play, is helped by the cunning and conniving Dr Mackentekker (Tom Ross-Williams) and falls out with his long-suffering wife, Sarah Lovett (Alice Henley).
Brave Badger Theatre: general election political debate
The Heart of Adrian Lovett has two aims: to provide a platform for the medical profession who were not consulted before the 2012 Health and Social Care Act and to engage 18-24 year olds in the political discussion from which Brave Badger Theatre believes they have been largely ignored. It is a great way for young people to engage with politics in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

★★★★★