Britannia

The history of empire is depicted through the metaphor of a British bulldog responding to his mistress's call. The dog unfurls the Union Jack over the British Isles and begins to interact with a small ball representing the world. Initially, the interaction is innocent, but it evolves as the bulldog discovers tea in India and shakes gold from Africa. Over time, the play becomes more ferocious, marked by scenes of terrorized women and children as the dog transforms into an enslaving potentate. English archetypes, once harmless, reap the benefits of colonial wealth. As the world expands, the dog also changes, shifting from a powerful bulldog to a weakened, effete lap dog.